Conditions at Ouakam in January
January: The Heart of the Groundswell Season
January is peak winter for Ouakam. The North Atlantic is in full roar, and the statistics confirm it: an average swell height of 1.8m (6ft) with a dominant period of 12.9s. The swell distribution is overwhelmingly from the NNW - 75.7% of observations - with a further 10.9% from the NW and 5.5% from the N. The largest share of waves sits in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) band, which for this SW-facing beach means a solid, heavy wave that wraps around the point. Wind-wise, the offshore flow is locked in: N, NNE and NE combined account for roughly 79% of all wind readings, and 20% of the time the wind is perfectly ideal for grooming the swell. Water temperature sits at a fresh 20.9°C, air temperature averages 21.8°C, and rainfall is minimal at 0.32mm/day, so it is often crystal-clear. The only negative is that there is zero swell from the classic S to WSW window, so the entire quality relies on how well the NNW energy refracts into the bay - on the best days it is world-class.
Average Spot conditions at Ouakam in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ouakam 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 Ouakam for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ouakam 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 Ouakam.