Conditions at L'Embarcadore in January
January: Deep Midwinter Swell
January is the peak of the winter swell season at L'Embarcadore, with an average wave height of 2.1m (about 7ft) and a healthy 12.0s period. The wave rose is dominated by W (25.5%) and WNW (25.1%) groundswell, which stacks lines on the exposed outer banks but is not the ideal S/SW direction for this south-facing spot. The best setup is a strong low-pressure system over the North Atlantic that sends long-period W/WNW swell while the cold air mass behind it flips the wind into the N/NNW quadrant. Offshore wind only blows 19% of the time, however, as S/SW and WSW winds are common on the heels of winter lows. When it all lines up, expect powerful 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) sets. Air temps are cold, averaging 5.9°C, with water at 9.3°C and frequent rain at 2.56mm/day, so wear the thick rubber and hunt the clean windows between fronts.
Average Spot conditions at L'Embarcadore in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at L'Embarcadore 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 L'Embarcadore for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at L'Embarcadore 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 L'Embarcadore.