Conditions at Nazare in January
January: The Heart of the Big Wave Season
January is prime time. The average combined swell height runs about 8ft (2.4m) and the period sits at 13.1 seconds, so every pulse carries serious North Atlantic power. Swell direction is dominated by the west/northwest quadrant: WNW makes up 24.8 percent of all readings and NW another 21.6 percent, with NNW adding 6.3 percent and true W 6.4 percent. The strongest and most consistent waves come from WNW, which is squarely in Nazare's optimal window. Because the beach faces WSW, true west swell also lights up the canyon, and even the abundant NW groundswell wraps into the bay with solid size. Offshore wind is ideal 50 percent of the time, thanks to a healthy share of east and southeast flow (E 7.6, ESE 9.9 and SE 6.9 percent). When high pressure settles over the continent, those easterly winds groom the swell to perfection. Air temperatures average 12.2°C, water temperature is 14.2°C, so winter rubber is mandatory. Rain is common at 2.82 mm/day, but the windows between frontal passages are usually the cleanest.
Average Spot conditions at Nazare in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Nazare 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 Nazare for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Nazare 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 Nazare.