Conditions at Karmay in January
January: Midwinter Muscle and a Cross-Shore Fight
January is the peak of the Norwegian swell calendar. The average wave height hits 8.2ft (2.5m) and the average period is 9.5s, which means plenty of punchy, powerful surf. Swell directions are spread across the western half of the compass, but the W, WSW and SW sectors together make up a healthy share of the distribution, bringing exactly the swell window that Karmay's southwest-facing coastline needs.
The catch is wind. SE, SSE and S alone account for over 34% of the wind rose, often blowing 20-40kph and putting cross-shore/onshore chop on the face. Only 22% of the time is the flow ideal from N through E. When high pressure over Scandinavia delivers a north-easterly drain while a deep Atlantic low spins swell toward Norway, Karmay can offer hollow, powerful winter waves. With air temps around 4.4°C, water temperature at 6.4°C and 5.37mm/day of precipitation, prepare for cold, wet and occasionally firing sessions.
Average Spot conditions at Karmay in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Karmay 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 Karmay for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Karmay 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 Karmay.