Conditions at Praia das Macas in January
January: Midwinter Muscle
The North Atlantic is firing in January, with an average swell height of 2.6m (8.5ft) and a deep-water period of 13.0s. West-northwest through northwest swells dominate the rose (WNW 17.7%, NW 21.9%, NNW 9.5% and W 4.7%), putting Praia das Macas on the receiving end of powerful, long-period groundswell. Waves in the 2-2.5m (6.5-8ft) range are common, and the biggest events push well into XL territory above 2.5m (8ft). This is serious winter surf that demands experience and the right board.
The main challenge is wind. Ideal surfing wind only arrives 22% of the time, mostly from SSW (5.1%), SW (5.4%) and WSW (4.7%). North and NNW winds (combined 21.7%) blow frequently, especially after cold fronts, and turn the lineup bumpy. With air temperatures averaging 11.5°C (0.9-18.8°C), water at 14.6°C and frequent rainfall (2.49mm/day), the winter wetsuit is mandatory. When the wind does swing offshore, the rewards are huge.
Average Spot conditions at Praia das Macas in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia das Macas 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 Praia das Macas for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia das Macas 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 Praia das Macas.