Conditions at Zavial in January
January: The Deep-Winter Pulse
January is prime time for serious Atlantic groundswell. Average wave heights are in the 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) range and the period stretches to 13.1 seconds - the most powerful monthly average of the year. The swell rose is dominated by WNW, NW and NNW energy, while direct S/SSW/SW swell makes up only about 1% of the month. That sounds bad on paper, but the longer-period component wraps around the western headland, and when a true SSW/SW groundswell arrives, Zavial's SSW-facing beach lights up. Windwise, the NNW quadrant dominates at 20%, with solid NNE and NW support, giving offshore and favourable flow 41% of the time. Frontal systems bring frequent rain (1.96mm/day), air temps around 13.8°C (min 6.2°C, max 18.8°C), and water temperature at 15.9°C. It is cold surf, but the payoff is serious power.
Average Spot conditions at Zavial in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zavial 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 Zavial for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zavial 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 Zavial.