Conditions at Almagreira in January
January: The North Atlantic Heavyweight
January is statistically the biggest month of the year at Almagreira, with average swell heights of around 9ft (2.8m) and a mean period of 13.1s. That places it squarely in powerful, long-period territory. The dominant swell directions are NW and WNW - 18.4% and 15.2% of all readings respectively - with an additional 8% from the NNW and only trace energy from the south and east. In practical terms, this means the beach sees its most consistent, heaviest surf of the year, often in the 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) range and occasionally breaking well overhead.
The catch is the wind. NNW winds account for 11.5% of the month and N/NNE another 18.5%, so there will be periods when the same direction that delivers the swell also chops it up. Still, 30% of the time the wind is ideal from S through WSW, and with water temperatures around 14.4°C, air temps averaging 12.2°C and winter rainfall of 2.82 mm/day, you'll be trading summer trunks for a good 4/3 wetsuit.
Average Spot conditions at Almagreira in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Almagreira 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 Almagreira for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Almagreira 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 Almagreira.