Conditions at Bridges in January
January: Midwinter Trade Swell
The new year opens with the strongest average swell of the year at Bridges. Swell heights average 0.8m (2.6ft) with periods of 7.0s, the highest of the calendar year. The direction of the wave energy is almost locked into the ESE trade-wind corridor; ESE swell accounts for 62.7% of all observations, with E (16.3%) and SE (9.8%) filling out the rest. Most of the energy is in the 0.5-1m (1.6-3.3ft) class, though 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft) sets make a decent 11% showing. This is small, punchy, rideable windswell, not a powerful groundswell.
The wind picture is dominated by the offshore ENE/E trade flow. ENE winds blow 41.3% of the time and E winds another 23.2%, with a strong secondary NE component of 15.4%. Speeds frequently sit in the 10-30kph range, but only 36% of observations are truly ideal for surfing. On the right days, especially before the trade winds build in the afternoon, Bridges will offer clean, fun-size offshore waves. Air temperatures average a warm 25.0°C, water temperature is 26.5°C, and precipitation is relatively low at 2.08 mm/day, making January one of the more reliable winter months.
Average Spot conditions at Bridges in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bridges 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 Bridges for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bridges 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 Bridges.