Conditions at La Torche in December
December: Winter's Power Arrives
December closes the year with full-force Atlantic winter. Average swell height is 7ft (2.1m), periods are up at 11.5 seconds, and the wave directions are as good as it gets: W at 21 percent, WNW at 16 percent, WSW at 12 percent, with an undercurrent of SW. The period and size usually put the beach in firing territory, with plenty of 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) sets marching through. The wind distribution is the usual winter dilemma - only 15 percent ideal offshore, and SW/WSW/W flow totals around 27 percent of all observations. Rain is at its highest of the year, 3.7mm/day, while water drops to 11.9°C and air temps hover near 8.8°C. Winter swells are fully developed, and if a negative or neutral NAO pattern sets up high pressure over France, the resulting E/SE winds will groom those long-period W-NW groundswells into world-class peaks. December is not for the faint-hearted, but it rewards those who read the charts.
Average Spot conditions at La Torche in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at La Torche 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 La Torche for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at La Torche 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 La Torche.