Mabuntok • Statistics for January

January: The Northeast Monsoon at Full Roar

January is dominated by the Amihan, with strong high pressure over Siberia driving cold surges into the Philippine Sea. The swell roses tell the story: ENE accounts for 60.4 percent of the wave energy, NE adds 34.8 percent, and the average swell height sits at 4ft (1.3m) with a period of 9.4s. That is a solid, rideable combination for Mabuntok, as both NE and ENE are inside the optimal swell window. The catch is the wind. The same monsoon flow produces NE/ENE winds 55.1 percent of the time, and adding N/NNE pushes the onshore total past two-thirds. Offshore S/SW/WSW days barely register, with only 5 percent ideal wind. When a cold surge relaxes and winds turn light, the surf is actually good - 3-4ft (1-1.2m), lined up and powerful - but those windows are rare. Air temperatures hover near 26.7°C, water is a warm 27.6°C, and frequent rain (16.9 mm/day) keeps everything humid and active.