Wyldewood Beach • Statistics for December

December: Peak Winter Swell, Peak Difficulty

December ties January for the highest average wave height of the year at 0.7m (2.3ft) and carries the longest average period in the dataset at 4.1s. The swell rose is loaded from the favorable southwest quadrant: WSW at 16.3%, W at 14.4%, SW at 14.3%, SSW at 8.3% and WNW at 8.0% make up the majority, with a slightly healthier distribution of 1-2m (3.3-6.5ft) waves from WSW, W and SW. The caveat remains the period: 4.1s is still short-period chop, so even the bigger days will be crumbly and wind-driven. Winds remain difficult: WSW at 13.8%, W at 14.6%, SW at 10.3% and WNW at 10.1% dominate, and the onshore block sits around 38%, while offshore N/NNE/NE/ENE is at its yearly minimum near 11%. Ideal wind is 1%. With air temperatures averaging 0.0°C, lows down to -14.6°C, and precipitation of 1.98 mm/day, December demands thick rubber and a shortboard - or a sharp eye for the rare offshore high-pressure window after a passing low.