Conditions at Foz in January
January: The Heart of the Winter Swell Window
January is Foz at its rawest. Average swell heights sit around 1.7m (5.5ft) with a 12.5s period, meaning long-period groundswell is rolling in from deep Atlantic lows. The swell direction totals are dominated by NW (37%) and NNW (17%), with another 14% from WNW - together, the optimal NN-W to W window accounts for well over two-thirds of the month's wave energy. That broad fetch is exactly what lights up this stretch of coast. Winds are also favorable: SSW flow appears 24% of the time, SW 16%, and the whole offshore SSW-to-W quadrant totals more than 50%, giving plenty of clean, groomed sessions between frontal passages. ENE winds still make their presence felt (11%), especially in the wake of high pressure, so you sometimes have to pick your window. Water temperature rests at 13.6°C - a 4/3mm wetsuit is essential - with air temperatures averaging 7.0°C and precipitation around 3.5mm/day. When an Atlantic low tracks just north of Spain, hold on to your board.
Average Spot conditions at Foz in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Foz 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 Foz for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Foz 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 Foz.