Flagge von Costa Rica

Playa Pelada • Statistics for December

Conditions at Playa Pelada in December

December: Clean Dry-Season Surf

December closes out the year in classic dry-season form. The average swell height is 1.3m (4.3ft) with a period of 11.7s - rideable and punchy, but lacking the heavy green-season juice. The direction mix is more dispersed: SSW (31.1%) and SW (18.7%) still lead, but there is a stronger showing from W, WNW, NW, and even NNE directions. That means more waves wrap in from the northern side of the window, and the SSW/SW consistency of May through October is not quite there.

Winds, however, are a gift. NE dominates at 44.5%, NNE adds 12.1%, and ENE another 11.5%, all of which blow offshore and groom the face. Ideal wind is 60% of the time, rain is only 0.7mm/day, water temp is 27.9°C, and air temps are 27.1°C. December is a great month for small-wave cruising, log sessions, and longboarding at Playa Pelada, with the occasional mid-period pulse from the south.

Average Spot conditions at Playa Pelada in December

Swell history for December

0 - 2
2 - 3
3 - 5
5 - 6
6 - 8
> 8 ft

Wind history for December

0 - 6.2
6.3 - 12.4
12.4 - 18.6
18.6 - 24.9
24.9 - 31.1
> 31.1 mph

Swell quality

Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Pelada during December. 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 Playa Pelada for your next trip in December.

Ground swell

Ground swell by size

Wind conditions

Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Pelada for December. 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 Playa Pelada.

Swell with good wind

Swell with good wind by size

Choose month for details