Ipanema • Statistics for January

January: Summer Lull at Ipanema

January is classic South Atlantic summer. The semi-permanent high pressure cell keeps the trades blowing from E and ENE, and although the wind data show Ipanema's N/NNE offshore flow is present enough to keep the wave quality rideable 55 percent of the time, the surf itself is small. Average swell height is 1.1m (3-4ft) with an average period of 9.5s - punchy but not powerful. Swell direction is split between ESE/SE trade wind energy and S/SSE pulses: ESE and SE combine for around 41 percent of the distribution, while SSE and S account for around 47 percent. Because Ipanema faces south, the S/SSE pulses wrap in the best and have the most shape; E/ESE energy is more crumbly and sectiony. With air temperatures around 25.6°C, water temperature at 22.8°C and 6.75 mm/day of precipitation, expect sticky humidity, passing showers and the occasional clean morning before the onshore sea breeze kicks in. It is not the best month, but it can still be fun when a summer S swell lines up.