Conditions at El Barco in January
January: Midwinter North Pulses and the Trade Wind Grind
January is peak season in the northern Caribbean. The average wave height bumps up to 1.7m (5.6ft), the mean period runs 9.4s, and while the swell rose is still dominated by ENE and E energy at 36.1% and 20.0%, there is a healthy 18% of swell arriving from the optimal N, NNE and NNW directions. Those bursts of true north in the swell are the days El Barco wakes up, especially when a cold front pushes through the Atlantic and sends 10-14s groundswell down the island chain.
On the wind front, the easterly trades are relentless: E, ESE and ENE combine for around two-thirds of all wind observations, often blowing 20-30kph. That puts most of the month in cross-onshore, bumpy territory, with ideal wind only 41% of the time. The exceptions come when the Bermuda High shifts far enough east and we get light southerly offshore flow, usually around dawn. Water temperature sits at 26.5°C, air temperatures average 24.5°C, and rainfall is moderate at 1.72mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at El Barco in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at El Barco 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 El Barco for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at El Barco 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 El Barco.