Conditions at Essaouira in January
January: Peak Winter Groundswell
January is the heart of the Moroccan winter, and the numbers show it: an average swell height of 2.3m (7.5ft) and a long-period average of 13.2 seconds. The North Atlantic low-pressure conveyor is running at full tilt, with the swell directions dominated by NNW (31.5%) and NW (26.2%), plus a healthy WNW component (8.0%) and W content (2.1%) giving the exposed west-facing coast a well-rounded mix. Most of the energy falls into the 1.5-2.5m band, meaning pumping, hollow, stand-up barrels on the best peaks. The wind gods are relatively generous too, with ideal offshore conditions roughly 50 percent of the time, mostly from the ENE through SE quadrant. Air temp averages 15.8°C, water 16.9°C; a 4/3 wetsuit and a hood are wise for dawn patrol.
Average Spot conditions at Essaouira in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Essaouira 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 Essaouira for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Essaouira 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 Essaouira.