Conditions at Reef in January
January: The North Atlantic at Full Roar
January is the heart of the Portuguese winter and this west-facing reef is fully exposed to the middle of the North Atlantic. The average swell height comes in near 8.5ft (2.6m) with an average period of 13.0 seconds, meaning deep-water groundswell energy is almost always present. Swell direction charts show exactly why the spot works: NW and WNW sources combine for roughly 40% of the waves, with W and NNW adding another 14%, keeping the reef constantly under a powerful, west-to-northwest pulse. Most days fall into the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range, and the biggest sets, occasionally over 8ft (2.5m), arrive from the NW/WNW sectors.
On the wind side, the offshore east to southeast quadrant accounts for just over a fifth of the month, aligning with the 26% clean window statistic. Yes, the dominant wind is actually NNW/NNE, but when a winter high pressure system ridges into the continent, offshore flow from the east cleans the place up nicely. Water temperature hovers at 14.4°C, air averages 11.5°C, and the 2.49mm/day of precipitation reminds you that frontal systems sweep through regularly. Bring a thick suit and a big-wave mentality - January does not mess around.
Average Spot conditions at Reef in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Reef 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 Reef for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Reef 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 Reef.