Angourie • Statistics for January

January: Midsummer Trade-Wind Chop

January is peak summer at Angourie, and the surf is a mixed bag. The average swell height sits around 5ft (1.5m) with an average period of 8.4s, which places the bulk of the energy in the average, punchy range. The dominant swell directions are east and east-southeast, with E swell providing 25.4% and ESE 20.4% of the total; ENE adds another 15.0%. That is a reasonably good directional setup for this ENE-facing coast, but only 21% of the time is the wind truly ideal.

The problem is the sea-breeze-driven NE to SE wind pattern. Combined NNE, NE, ENE, E and ESE winds account for over 41% of the wind distribution, and when they blow, they directly chop up the same E/ESE swell that Angourie needs. The most persistent winds are SSE (14.4%), SE (11.2%) and NE (9.6%), none of which are true offshore. Surf quality therefore hinges on light mornings or a rare SW-WNW offshore flow. During those windows the E/ESE swell lines up cleanly. Otherwise expect summer slop.

Tropical activity in the Coral Sea can occasionally elevate the swell, but more often than not it arrives with humid air and onshore winds. With air temps averaging 24.8°C and the water temperature at 24.4°C, it feels like summer in every way. Precipitation is high at 4.78mm/day, so keep the rain jacket close.