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Conditions at Prainha in January
January: Summer Trade Winds and Punchy Waves
January is a classic summer month at Prainha. The average wave height sits at 1.4m (4-5ft) and the average period is only 8.2s, which puts most surf in the punchy, rideable category. Swell energy is dominated by the east-northeast through southeast quadrant, with east at 24.8%, east-southeast at 20.9% and east-northeast at 20.6%, meaning the exposure is far from flat. The problem is wind. The northeast and east-northeast trades combine for over 34% of the wind distribution, and those are directly onshore at this east-southeast facing beach. Only 28% of the time is the wind ideal, mostly light west-northwest or northwest breezes that groom the surface. With water temperature at 23.5°C and humid air around 22.5°C, it is warm but often lumpy. Look for early mornings and the tail of passing cold fronts for the cleanest, most rippable waves.
Average Spot conditions at Prainha in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Prainha 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 Prainha for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Prainha 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 Prainha.