Lanuza • Statistics for January

January: Peak Monsoon Power, Questionable Winds

January is the height of the northeast monsoon season and Lanuza sees the largest average swell of the year at 1.3m (4.3ft) with an average period of 9.4s. The wave rose shows a dominant NNE, NE and ENE feed, with NE swell contributing 34.8 percent and ENE a massive 60.4 percent. That means there is plenty of energy in the water, but the direction is slightly east of the ideal N-NNE-NE window; the north-facing exposures at Lanuza will still pick up the NE component, producing solid 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) waves and occasional 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) sets. The main issue is the wind: N, NNE, NE and ENE flow combines for a heavy 54 percent of all observations, and since these are onshore directions for a NNE-facing beach, wave quality is often bumpy and wind-blown. Ideal winds only occur 17 percent of the time, usually under weaker morning gradients. With air temps averaging 25.6°C, water temp at 27.6°C, and precipitation running high at 17.24mm/day, it is a warm but wet and stormy month. Chase the dawn patrol windows with lighter winds and you will find punchy, rideable NE swell.