Conditions at Neva Bay in January
January: Deep-Winter Lake Power
January is Neva Bay's heavy month. The average swell height sits around 9.5ft (2.9m) with an 11.8s average period, equal to the year's longest. The directional rose is built around SSW (8.6%), SW (10.3%) and WSW (9.1%), with a useful 3.9% from W - all products of strong low-pressure systems moving across the Great Lakes and piling water toward the west-facing beach. A meaningful share of the energy falls in the 1.5-2.5m and 2.5m-plus categories, so this is not a month for small-wave boards. The wind is the limiting factor; only 26% of the time is ideal. Offshore E/ESE/SE flow is common but often strong enough to add texture, while the W/SW winds that made the swell can easily turn the surface to chop. Water temp is 5.9°C (43°F), so hooded 5/4/3mm rubber is non-negotiable.
Average Spot conditions at Neva Bay in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Neva 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 Neva Bay for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Neva 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 Neva Bay.