Conditions at Capbreton in December
December: High-Level Winter Surf as the Year Ends
December closes the year with Capbreton firing on all cylinders. Average swell height is 5-6ft (1.7m) and the average period is 12.6s, one of the highest of the year. The swell direction is solidly in the favorable quadrant: WNW at 39.6%, NW at 32.4%, with W at 3.8% and WSW at 0.9%. This is a classic winter groundswell setup, and the period clocking in above 12s gives the waves real power and depth. The height distribution shows a wide spread across 0.5m to 2.5m+, with the 1-2.5m range containing about 55% of all waves-plenty of solid, ripable-to-firing surf through the month. December also has the highest ideal wind percentage of the year at 39%. The dominant pattern is high pressure over Europe/Scandinavia feeding cool east/southeast winds, while low pressure systems track east across the Atlantic. Those systems bring westerly onshore winds and occasional heavy rain-3.6mm/day-but the post-frontal north/northwest winds often clean up quickly. Water temperature drops to 13.4°C and air temperatures average 7.7°C, so you will need a winter suit and a good attitude. As the calendar flips to January, the North Atlantic storm machine keeps running, and Capbreton remains one of Europe's most reliable winter surf destinations.
Average Spot conditions at Capbreton in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Capbreton 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 Capbreton for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Capbreton 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 Capbreton.