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Conditions at Punta Banco in January
January: Long-Period Groundswell in the Dry Season
January opens with a classic Punta Banco baseline: nearly pure SSW swell at 96.6% of the wave energy, an average period of 13.0s, and average heights around 2-3ft (0.7m). The bulk of the energy sits in the 0.5-1m (2-3ft) bracket, with just 3.5% pushing into the 1-1.5m (3-5ft) range. The wind is the limiting factor - ideal offshore flow runs just 11%, while a dominant W/NW pattern (WNW 24%, W 17%, WSW 16%) blows cross-onshore for the southwest-facing beach. The dry season keeps rainfall low at 1.76mm/day and air temperatures near 26°C, with water temperature at 28.8°C. Catch the dawn window before the sea breeze fills in and the long-period lines can be surprisingly fun.
Average Spot conditions at Punta Banco in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Punta Banco 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 Punta Banco for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Punta Banco 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 Punta Banco.