Conditions at Chatarra in January
January: The Winter Window in Its Prime
The new year opens with the most promising average surf numbers of the year at Chatarra: a mean swell height of 3ft (0.9m) and an average period of 6.2s. Direction is still a problem, though, with E swell producing 49.5% and ESE adding another 39.5% of the wave spectrum. True N, NNW and NW swell is absent from the stats, and the northeast corner only contributes a tiny NE/ENE fraction. For an NNE-facing beach, that means most of the energy arrives highly obliquely and with very little punch.
The wind distribution is dominated by the trades, with E, ENE and ESE combining for nearly 78% of all observations, mostly in the 10-20kph range. Ideal offshore wind from the S/SSW/SW quadrant is still rare, which keeps the ideal wind percentage at 24%. Yet the winter pattern can throw cold fronts into the equation, and when the wind briefly swings offshore, the bump disappears and those 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) windswell peaks turn surprisingly rippable. Air is 24.9°C and water is 26.6°C, so the tropical warmth is still firmly in place.
Average Spot conditions at Chatarra in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Chatarra 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 Chatarra for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Chatarra 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 Chatarra.