Conditions at Rincao in January
January: Summer Lull with Punchy Trade-Swell Windows
The new year at Rincao is dominated by the South Atlantic subtropical high. Average swell heights sit at 4ft (1.3m) with an average period of 8.4 seconds, so most of the energy is wind-swell and shorter-period groundswell. The wave window is almost entirely from the E/ESE/SE/SSE directions - E and ESE account for over half of all swell energy - which lines up well with the beach's south-east exposure, but the shorter period keeps the wave faces softer and more sectiony.
Winds are a mixed bag in January. The NE/ENE trades blow 35-40 percent of the time at 10-20kph, keeping a cross-shore texture on the wave faces. Ideal offshore W/NW/NNW flow is present only 28 percent of the time, so you have to work the early mornings and frontal passages. With air temperatures around 24°C, water temps at 23°C and 5.1mm/day of rain, the summer crowd is rewarded with warm, grovelling 3-5ft (1-1.5m) waves when the wind plays ball.
Average Spot conditions at Rincao in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Rincao 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 Rincao for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Rincao 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 Rincao.