Conditions at L'Embarcadore in December
December: Winter's Cold-Hearted Peak
December ties with February for the largest average swell of the season at 2.0m (6.6ft), and the period is a strong 11.6s. The wave rose is a bit more balanced than midwinter, with WNW (24.1%), W (21.1%), and WSW (7.1%) leading the way, while the easterly quadrant contributes over 12% - a sign of high-pressure blocking to the north. Winter high pressure over the continent can produce cold offshore ENE/NNE winds, but the ideal wind percentage bottoms out at just 17%, the lowest of the year. Low pressure systems tracking across the British Isles and Bay of Biscay frequently push S/SW winds onshore, making for raw, stormy conditions at the beach. The payoff is when a strong NW wind behind a cold front nails a 12s+ swell, delivering pumping, hollow waves in the 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) range. Air temps are just 6.5°C, water 10.6°C, and rain is plentiful at 2.99mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at L'Embarcadore in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at L'Embarcadore 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 L'Embarcadore for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at L'Embarcadore 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 L'Embarcadore.