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Conditions at Cardoso in January
January: Mid-Summer Trade-Wind Slop
Cardoso is locked into the South Atlantic High's subtropical pattern this month. The average wave height sits at 5ft (1.5m) with a middling 8.4s period, and the swell spectrum is dominated by E/ENE/ESE lines - together over 60% of all the energy reaching the coast. Because Cardoso faces south, those directions arrive poorly angled and often shadowed; you get lumpy, groveling conditions more often than lined-up waves. The S/SSW/SW quadrant that Cardoso loves contributes a small but notable 7-8%, mostly in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range. The wind story is more encouraging: NNE/NE offshore flow is present around 42% of the time, with a third of the month falling into the ideal window. Air temps near 25°C, water temps at 24°C, and 5.57mm/day of rain mean warm, sticky conditions. Look for morning N/NE offshores and hope a rogue frontal low scrapes the coast.
Average Spot conditions at Cardoso in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cardoso 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 Cardoso for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cardoso 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 Cardoso.