Conditions at Bico in January
January: Deep Winter Muscle
January is Bico at its most powerful. The average swell stands around 6-7ft (2.0m) with a period of 13.0s - a setup that drives steep, lined-up peaks onto the northwest-facing sandbar. The swell window is dominated by WNW (37%), NW (23%), and W (10%), with plenty of energy in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range.
Wind, however, remains the wildcard. The good news: offshore flow from the east through south-southeast is most consistent during winter, with 37% of conditions falling into the ideal category. The bad news: when the wind does swing north of west, it tends to be onshore and can chop up the surface. Air temperatures sit at a chilly 12.9°C (min 4.7°C, max 18.1°C) and water temps hover around 15.0°C, so a solid 4/3mm wetsuit is non-negotiable. Storms parading across the North Atlantic keep the energy high, but the cleanest days come when high pressure over the continent blocks the westerlies and lets the easterly winds blow offshore.
Average Spot conditions at Bico in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bico 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 Bico for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bico 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 Bico.