Praia Grande • Statistics for January

January: Full-Force Winter Groundswell

January is the epicenter of winter at Praia Grande. The average wave height of 8.5ft (2.6m) with a 13.0 second period puts the spot right in the powerful, long-period range. The swell distribution is heavily weighted toward the northwest quadrant: NW takes 21.9 percent, WNW 17.7 percent, and NNW 9.5 percent, with W adding another 4.7 percent. These are all optimum swell directions for the west-northwest facing beach, so the wave energy arrives with real purpose. The low-frequency Atlantic storms are generating serious groundswell, and on the bigger days the ocean produces heavy conditions well beyond 8ft (2.4m). The wind picture is more mixed. Although ideal offshore flow is present 23 percent of the time, the most common winds are NNW at 13.9 percent, NNE at 10 percent and N at 7.8 percent. The cleanest surf coincides with the eastern offshore quadrant - E, ESE, SE and SSE - which usually delivers glassy faces during and after the passage of low pressure. Weather remains cool and unsettled, with air temperatures averaging 11.5°C (min 0.9°C, max 18.8°C) and rain at 2.49 mm/day. Water temperature sits at 14.6°C, so plenty of rubber is still required. If you pick your window, this is heavy, hollow, world-class Praia Grande.