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Conditions at Kalk Bay in January
January: The Cape Doctor Blows Through
High summer is in full force. The average swell sits at 2.3m (7.5ft) with a period of 11.1s - fun when you catch it, but the wind is the story. Southeast and south-southeast winds combine for over 55% of observations, and with them comes the Cape Doctor. This onshore flow is bad news for Kalk Bay, as it dirties up the southeast-facing bay and turns longer-period groundswell into lumpy, wind-blown lines. Swell-wise, SSW and SW directions dominate at 17.8% and 27.6% respectively, with S and SSE adding another 15.9%. While those angles aren't perfect, they still push in plenty of 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) swell. The ideal offshore window is only 11%, so wait for a dawn patrol with lighter NW/NNW wind or a late glass-off before committing. With average air temperatures near 21.3°C and water temp at 18.1°C, it's warm-weather surfing.
Average Spot conditions at Kalk Bay in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Kalk Bay 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 Kalk Bay for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Kalk Bay 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 Kalk Bay.