Conditions at Vila Franca do Campo in January
January: Big Atlantic Swell, but You'll Have to Earn It
January is the apex of the Azorean winter. The open-ocean average swell comes in around 9ft (2.7m) with a powerful period of 12.3s, driven by a steady parade of North Atlantic lows. The swell rose, however, is dominated by NNW (8.9%), NW (10.4%), WNW (8.9%) and W (5.6%) - energy that mostly points away from the SSE-facing beach at Vila Franca. The SE/SSE/S/SSW swell that truly works here is a small but critical slice of the picture, together making up under 3% of the total. Standout days come when a deep low sets up a long southerly fetch across the mid-Atlantic. Those winter setups are often windy: SW winds make up 11.4%, SSW 9.3% and WSW 9.2%, leaving plenty of onshore/cross-onshore mayhem. Ideal offshore N/NNE/NW/NNW flow is only 19% in January, so patience is essential. Water sits at 16.6°C, air averages 15.9°C, and rain is around 2.27mm/day. When the south swell connects with a north wind, the power is unforgettable.
Average Spot conditions at Vila Franca do Campo in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Vila Franca do Campo 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 Vila Franca do Campo for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Vila Franca do Campo 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 Vila Franca do Campo.