Conditions at Maceda in January
January: Peak Winter Power
January is Maceda at its heaviest. The average swell height sits at 1.8m (6ft) with a 12.7s period, placing it squarely in the powerful, long-period band that makes west-facing Portuguese beaches stand up. WNW swell accounts for 46.7% of all wave directions, with W at 15.8% and NW at 16.1% - so the exposed beach sees a very healthy portion of its favorite angles. The ideal offshore wind group (ENE, E, ESE, SE) blows 47% of the time, often on the back side of passing Atlantic cold fronts. When the low pressure moves over the Bay of Biscay, expect gusty south/southwest winds and rising raw swell; when the front clears, winds flip to the eastern quadrant and clean lines appear. Air temperatures average 10.4°C, water temperature 13.6°C, so it's big-wave season with a full winter bag.
Average Spot conditions at Maceda in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Maceda 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 Maceda for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Maceda 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 Maceda.