Werri Beach • Statistics for January

January: The Summer Sea-Breeze Struggle

January is peak summer at Werri, and while the warm 21.7°C water and 21.4°C air make it inviting, the surf quality is constantly fighting the elements. The NE through SE swell window dominates the rose, with NE, ENE, E, ESE and SE directions combining for nearly 73% of all incoming energy. Most waves sit in the 3-6ft (1-2m) range with the average height around 5ft (1.6m), but the 8.3s average period reveals a predominance of short-period, punchy windswell rather than clean groundswell. The problem is the wind: NNE and NE flow combine for around 26% of all observations, while true offshore WSW-W-WNW-NW directions contribute only about 8%. With ideal conditions just 30% of the time, the classic January day is a morning of semi-clean 3-5ft (1-1.5m) E/SE swell quickly turning into lumpy, cross-onshore slop once the north-easterly seabreeze arrives. Rainfall is moderate at 2.75mm/day, and those summer showers can add extra surface texture just when you least want it.