Conditions at Los Patos in January
January: Midwinter Groundswell Heavyweight
January is one of the strongest and most consistent months at Los Patos. With an average swell height of 6ft (1.9m) and an average period of 12.7s, the beach is routinely in the powerful long-period zone. The swell distribution is heavily weighted toward the optimal quadrant: NNW at 36.6%, NW at 17.4%, N at 10.3% and WNW at 2.7%, meaning the open Atlantic is aimed almost straight at this NNW-facing spot. Most waves fall between 3-8ft (1-2.5m), which translates to solid, pumping, sometimes firing surf, with occasional bombs over 8ft (2.5m) for those willing to charge.
The main drawback is wind. ENE flow dominates at 23.5%, with E at 19.3% and NE at 17.0%, and this persistent cross-shore energy keeps the lineup a little nervous even on smaller days. Clean windows exist roughly 26% of the time, usually when the wind shifts into the WSW/SW/SSW/S offshore quadrant. Add average air temperatures of 17.1°C, water temperature near 19.8°C and moderate rainfall at 1.01 mm/day, and January offers a compelling mix of power and comfort.
Average Spot conditions at Los Patos in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Los Patos 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 Los Patos for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Los Patos 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 Los Patos.