Surfing in United States in January
In January the best surfing in United States is at Kauai – Hanalei Bay, Oahu – Pipeline & Oahu – Waimea Bay.
Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Waves: 2 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 5–25°C, 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves at 5–9°C; 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves at 10–12°C; 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 13–15°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19°C; shorty at 23°C; no wetsuit at 25°C
- Air: 19°C by day, 12°C at night
- Weather: sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both
- Warm enough for no wetsuit: Kauai – Hanalei Bay, Oahu – Pipeline & Oahu – Waimea Bay.
- For beginners: Santa Cruz – Cowell's, Morro Bay & Outer Banks – Waves.
When are you planning to go?
1
JanPEAK SEASON
Hanalei Bay
Kauai · United States
2.9 m waves25° water25° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIH 32 km
2
JanPEAK SEASON
Pipeline
Oahu · United States
2.8 m waves25° water26° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 41 km
3
JanPEAK SEASON
Waimea Bay
Oahu · United States
2.8 m waves25° water26° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 39 km
4
JanPEAK SEASON
Haleiwa
Oahu · United States
2.4 m waves25° water26° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 36 km
5
JanPEAK SEASON
Cowell's
Santa Cruz · United States
2.4 m waves13° water16° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ MRY 45 km
6
JanPEAK SEASON
Morro Bay
United States
2 m waves14° water17° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SBP 25 km
7
JanPEAK SEASON
Outer Banks
Waves · United States
1.5 m waves9° water11° air
Beginner-friendly · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ EWN 153 km
8
JanPEAK SEASON
Wrightsville Beach
United States
1.3 m waves12° water12° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ ILM 13 km
9
JanPEAK SEASON
The Washout
Folly Beach · United States
1.3 m waves12° water14° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ CHS 28 km
10
JanPEAK SEASON
Rockaway Beach
New York · United States
1.2 m waves5° water4° air
Beginner-friendly · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ JFK 7 km
11
JanPEAK SEASON
Blacks Beach
La Jolla · United States
1.1 m waves15° water18° air
Advanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SAN 18 km
12
JanPEAK SEASON
Cocoa Beach
United States
1 m waves19° water21° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ MLB 30 km
13
JanGOOD
Westport
Washington · United States
3 m waves9° water10° air
Intermediate and up · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ OLM 92 km
14
JanGOOD
Short Sands
Oregon · United States
2.5 m waves10° water11° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ PDX 108 km
15
JanGOOD
Kailua Beach
Oahu · United States
2.2 m waves25° water26° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 22 km
16
JanGOOD
Mavericks
Half Moon Bay · United States
2 m waves13° water15° air
Advanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SFO 18 km
17
JanGOOD
Ho'okipa
Maui · United States
1.9 m waves25° water26° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ OGG 9 km
18
JanGOOD
Honolua Bay
Maui · United States
1.9 m waves25° water26° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ JHM 7 km
19
JanGOOD
Kanaha Beach Park
Maui · United States
1.9 m waves25° water26° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ OGG 0 km
20
JanGOOD
Jupiter
Florida · United States
1.3 m waves23° water23° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ DJT 29 km
Averages of the 20 spots on this page. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where to go surfing in United States in January?
Kauai – Hanalei Bay: 2.9 m waves; Oahu – Pipeline: 2.8 m waves; Oahu – Waimea Bay: 2.8 m waves.
How warm is the water in United States in January?
5–25°C: 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves at 5–9°C; 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves at 10–12°C; 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 13–15°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19°C; shorty at 23°C; no wetsuit at 25°C.
Where can beginners go surfing in January?
Good spots for beginners this month: Santa Cruz – Cowell's, Morro Bay & Outer Banks – Waves.
Which airport is closest?
Lihue Airport (LIH), 32 km from Kauai – Hanalei Bay; Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), 41 km from Oahu – Pipeline; Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), 45 km from Santa Cruz – Cowell's.
Read more
Pipeline surf guide: when it breaks, the reefs and why it's experts only5 min read
Which wetsuit do you need? Water temperature at popular spots, month by month2 min read