Conditions at Chickens in January
January: A Trade-Wind Windswell Stew
January is the heart of the northeast monsoon. The dominant swell direction is ENE, which supplies just over 71% of the total energy, and much of that sits in the 3-4ft (1-1.5m) range. However, Chickens faces SSE, and ENE/E windswell is the wrong approach angle for this reef. Only a tiny slice of the month's waves arrives from the ideal SE/SSE/S/SSW sector, so surf quality is largely a matter of wrap, shadowing and local wind luck. The 6.7s average period adds to the problem; the waves are average and punchy at best, but there is no long-period push to bend cleanly around the reef.
The wind pattern is controlled by strong NE/ENE trades, which combine for over 70% of the wind rose. Ideal surfing conditions occur about 34% of the time, usually when the wind backs into the NNW or NW. On those days you can find clean 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) windswell, but don't expect consistency. Air temperatures sit near 27.2°C, water temps are a warm 28.3°C, and rainfall is low at 1.93mm/day. The main enemy is swell direction and short period, not the weather.
Average Spot conditions at Chickens in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Chickens 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 Chickens for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Chickens 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 Chickens.