Conditions at Mundaka in January
January: Winter Grows Teeth at the Rivermouth
January is one of Mundaka's standout months. With an average swell of 6.5ft (2.0m) and a healthy average period of 12.7s, the Bay of Biscay is feeding the point with serious long-period groundswell. The dominant directions tell the story: NW swells account for nearly 30% of all readings, WNW just under 23%, and NNW another 9%, meaning the window from N through NW is wide open and delivering. Most of this energy sits in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range, with a few larger sets on the strongest pulses.
On the wind side, southern quadrants dominate the offshore flow, with SSW at 14.5% and S at 9.9%. These are the winds that groom the line-up at Mundaka. The catch is that W and WNW winds can also blow and those are cross/onshore at the rivermouth; when a deep low parks near Ireland, the NW windswell can quickly turn messy. Still, with ideal wind 27% of the time, January offers some of the most consistent, heavy and genuinely pumping days of the year. Air temperatures average 9.8°C, water temperature is 13.2°C, and rain is frequent-so bring the hood, not the boardies.
Average Spot conditions at Mundaka in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Mundaka 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 Mundaka for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Mundaka 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 Mundaka.