Conditions at Scripps in January
January: Winter Groundswell and the Santa Ana Edge
The new year opens with the most consistent surf of the season. Swell is overwhelmingly from the west (62.8%) with a strong WSW contribution (25.2%), plus smaller SW energy, giving Scripps a clean window for the west-facing beach. Average wave height sits at 1.0m (3.3ft) with a powerful 12.6s period, and the bulk of the surf falls in the fun-sized 0.5-1m (1.6-3.3ft) range before pushing into rippable 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). The 43% ideal wind number is the best of the year. ENE/E/ESE offshore flows, often enhanced by high pressure over the Great Basin, groom the surface and keep the W/WSW groundswell clean. When NW/WNW winds take over, the quality fades. Air temps average 14.6°C and monthly rainfall is 2.29mm/day; water temp is a cool 14.7°C, so bring the hood.
Average Spot conditions at Scripps in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Scripps 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 Scripps for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Scripps 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 Scripps.