Conditions at Getxo in January
January: Midwinter Muscle
January delivers the meatiest waves of the year at Getxo. With an average swell height of 7ft (2.1m) and a long-period 12.8s groundswell, this is not the time for a soft-top. The North Atlantic storm track is in full fury, and low-pressure systems diving southeast of Greenland send repeated W, WNW, NW and NNW swells into the Bay of Biscay. The direction data is clear: NW is the dominant band at 31%, with WNW adding 21% and NNW another 10%. That leaves this WNW-facing coast heavily exposed to deep-water energy. Average periods sit in the powerful 10-14s class, so the waves are organized and push hard. On the wind side, conditions are clean an ideal 44% of the time, mainly when E to ESE offshore flow takes over. West and northwest winds are the enemy, bringing onshore chop. With air temperatures around 9.9°C and water at 13.1°C, plus 3.52mm/day of rain, this is cold, serious winter surfing.
Average Spot conditions at Getxo in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Getxo 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 Getxo for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Getxo 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 Getxo.