Conditions at Contreiras in January
January: Heavyweight Winter Groundswell
January is prime time for raw North Atlantic power. The average swell height sits at 2.6m (8.5ft) with a powerful 12.9s period, placing this month firmly in the long-period groundswell category. Swell direction is heavily weighted toward the NW quadrant, with NNW at 20.6 percent and NW at 17.7 percent, plus a healthy 6.5 percent from WNW. Most of the energy arrives in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range, though the over-2.5m (8ft+) readings are present too, so expect occasional heavy days. Wind is the main limiting factor. NNE and NE flow combine for nearly 30 percent of conditions, with ENE and NNW adding more chop and sideshore texture. Clean offshore windows from the SSW-SW-WSW-W direction only arrive about 18 percent of the time. When they do align with a west-based low pressure system, the result is powerful, well-ordered lines reeling down the beach. Air temperatures hover between 13.1-20.1°C, water temperature is 18.5°C, and precipitation runs at 1.19mm/day, so bring the biggest board in the quiver and pick your windows carefully.
Average Spot conditions at Contreiras in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Contreiras 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 Contreiras for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Contreiras 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 Contreiras.