Conditions at Stockton in January
January: Midwinter Groundswell and Cold Offshore Windows
January is a winter month with real potential, but consistency is limited. The average swell height is 2.3ft (0.7m) and the average period is 6.2s, so most days fall into the small, fun-sized or groveling category. The swell roses show a mix of WNW/NW energy (10-11% each) and more favorable S/SSE/S energy (8-10% combined). For Stockton, the S, SSE and SSW swells are the ones that actually push toward the beach. Wind is the bigger story: WNW, NW and NNW combine for about 42% of all wind observations, creating frequent offshore windows around frontal passages. The catch is that SSW and SW winds still blow onshore about 15% of the time, often right before a cold front arrives. With water temperatures around 4.1°C and air temps near 2.5°C, January is not a beach-going month, but for a winter surfer with thick rubber, the offshore dawn patrol can deliver clean, punchy 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m) waves.
Average Spot conditions at Stockton in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Stockton 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 Stockton for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Stockton 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 Stockton.