Conditions at Cote des Basques in January
January: Peak Winter, Peak Power
January is Cote des Basques at maximum strength. The average swell runs 6ft (1.8m) with a 13.0 second period, putting this month firmly in the long-period groundswell category. The wave rose tells a clear story: WNW and NW directions make up more than 70 percent of all readings, and the meat of the distribution is within the 1-2.5m (3-8ft) range. This is the product of deep North Atlantic lows lining up west of Ireland and Biscay, sending powerful pulses into the coast.
Wind is the classic winter trade-off. The ideal wind window sits at 44 percent, meaning that on the best days the local flow is offshore or cross-offshore and the WNW swell lines stand up cleanly. But when the wind pushes onshore from WSW, W, WNW or NW, the bay turns lumpy and hard to read under a grey rain squall. With air temperatures around 9.1°C and water at 12.5°C, it is a cold, raw and occasionally epic month for the committed Basque surfer.
Average Spot conditions at Cote des Basques in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cote des Basques 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 Cote des Basques.