Conditions at Santana in January
January: Strong Trades and Short Windows
January is locked into the dry-season trade wind regime. ENE (41%) and NE (35%) dominate the open-water wave spectrum, with most energy in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) and 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) bands. That pumps the average swell height up to 4.6ft (1.4m), but only around 6% of the spectrum arrives from the useful S/SSW/SW/WSW quadrant. The average wave period of 8.0s puts this in the average, punchy, rideable class-not the long-period southern groundswell Santana needs to really turn on.
The wind story is no easier. ENE/NE trades blow over 94% of the time, often at 20-40km/h, and ideal surfing wind is only 4%. The trades are offshore, so there are occasional groomed moments, but they rarely coincide with any meaningful southern swell. Air temperatures average 27.3°C, water temp sits at 26.7°C, and rain is almost nonexistent at 0.06mm/day. Bring patience and pick the rare morning when the trades ease.
Average Spot conditions at Santana in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santana 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 Santana for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santana 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 Santana.