Conditions at Tifnit in January
January: Deep-Winter Groundswell at Full Strength
The North Atlantic is in full winter mode as January arrives, and Tifnit reaps the benefits. The average swell height is a solid 7ft (2.1m) with an average period of 13.2 seconds - powerful, long-period energy that links up well on the open west-facing beach. Directionally, the swell window is dominated by NW and NNW, which together account for over 65 percent of the observations, with a further 9.5 percent from WNW. That means most of the energy remains inside Tifnit's optimal delivery angles. The wind is favourable 46 percent of the time, thanks largely to E/ESE/SE winds blowing offshore from the land; these directions combine for roughly 34 percent of all wind observations, often in the 10-30kph range. On those days, the combination of 13-second groundswell and offshore breeze produces clean, hollow, pumping surf. Air temperatures average 13.2°C and water temperature sits at 17.6°C, so bring warmth in the water; precipitation averages only around 1mm/day. When the wind does turn NW/NNW, the same swell quickly becomes lumpy and onshore, so chase the early morning easterly windows.
Average Spot conditions at Tifnit in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Tifnit 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 Tifnit for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Tifnit 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 Tifnit.