Gas Bay • Statistics for December

December: Festive Season Lull

December settles into the low season pattern at Gas Bay. The average swell height sits at 1.9m (6.2ft) with an average period of 11.9s - still surfable, but with less muscle than the winter months. The swell direction is fantastic: SW (40.6%) and SSW (28.3%) are the heavy hitters, with WSW adding 7.7% and W 0.8%. The core energy is still coming from the prime west-southwest window, and much of it falls in the fun 1.5-2m and 2-2.5m classes. Wind is the main problem. SSE (24.3%), S (18.0%) and SE (15.1%) are the dominant directions, and ideal offshore NE flow hits its annual low at just 12% of the time. This means beautiful-looking SW groundswell often arrives with a summer southerly breeze messing up the surface. Water temperature is warm at 19.7°C, air temps average 18.9°C, and rain is minimal at 0.48mm/day. Check the wind charts before you paddle out; when a rare E/NE offshore aligns, December can still dish out clean, rippable waves.