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Conditions at Playa Raya in January
January: Trade-Wind Glass and Short-Period Mix
The new year opens with average surf height at 1.1m (3.5ft), but the average period is only 9.1s - the shortest of the year. Looking at the wave rose, N (15.1%), NNE (18.3%) and NNW (21.5%) swells combine for over half the total energy, while the preferred SSW direction contributes just 12.6%. That means much of the surf is locally generated windswell rather than true southern-hemisphere groundswell. The saving grace is wind: N/NNE/NNW offshore flow dominates, with NNW alone at 41.3% and N at 29.8%. The site reports 62% ideal surfing conditions, and the most common wave heights sit in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) and 1-1.5m (3-5ft) classes. Air temperatures average 26.3°C with only 1.39mm/day of rain and water temperature at 27.4°C, so sessions are warm and clean but often lacking real power.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Raya in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Raya 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 Playa Raya for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Raya 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 Playa Raya.