Conditions at Doughmore in January
January: Peak Winter Power
The North Atlantic is in full winter mode through January, and Doughmore sees some of the most consistent, powerful surf of the year. Average swell height checks in around 8ft (2.5m) with a meaty average period of 12.7s, meaning long-period groundswell thumping straight into the beach. The swell rose is dominated by W (26%), WSW (14%) and WNW (9%) peaks, all of which line up perfectly with the beach's west-facing exposure.
Wind is the big obstacle. The prevailing flow is onshore from SW-W almost four out of ten days, and with water temperatures at 9.1°C and air a brisk 6.9°C, it can feel raw. The ideal offshore window (NE-ESE) only arrives 22% of the time, usually as high pressure builds from the east after a cold front. When that easterly wind cleans up the long-period swell, January offers some of the heaviest, most charging surf of the whole year at Doughmore.
Average Spot conditions at Doughmore in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Doughmore 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 Doughmore for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Doughmore 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 Doughmore.