Playa Grande • Statistics for January

January: The Trade-Wind Grind

January is the height of Panama's dry season and the northeast trade wind machine is running at full tilt. The average swell stands at 1.8m (6ft) with a punchy 8.2s period, and the waverose is dominated by NE energy - 79.5% of all swell comes from the NE, with another 7.5% from the NNE and a handful of N/NNW pulses. The heavy NE trade-wind flow creates a consistent, powerful ocean, but Playa Grande faces NNW, so the directional alignment is poor. Winds are even more discouraging: NNE and NE combine for over 85% of all observations, many in the 20-40kph range, and the ideal offshore wind score is 0%. The result is lumpy, wind-blown surf with short-period lines peeling through onshore chop. Water temperatures hover near 27.7C, rainfall is minimal at 0.9mm/day, and the only real saving grace is the sheer size - if you can find an early-morning lull, there are 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) waves to be harvested.