Conditions at Oualidia in January
January: Midwinter Powerhouse
January is Oualidia at its rawest. Long-period North Atlantic groundswell is the rule rather than the exception, with the average wave period sitting at 13.2s and average swell height in the 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) range. Nearly 70% of all swells arrive from the NW and NNW quadrants, with a strong dose of WNW energy mixing in - exactly the directions this northwest-facing beach is built to handle. The result is powerful, grinding surf that can easily reach heavy and firing territory.
Wind is the swing factor. The Moroccan coast is wedged between low-pressure systems moving across the North Atlantic and the high-pressure ridge to the south. The background wind regime is dominated by NE and ENE flows - nearly 34% combined - but the quality windows come when the wind swings into the south and southwest. January delivers those conditions about 47% of the time, one of the highest of the year. When the offshore pulse holds, expect clean, lined-up walls; when it flips north or northwest, the surface turns to chop. Air temps sit at 12.4°C, water temp is 17.3°C, and rainfall averages 1.52 mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Oualidia in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Oualidia during January. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Oualidia for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Oualidia for January. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Oualidia.