Conditions at Palplanche in December
December: The Southern Summer Slumber
December closes the year with the quietest surf of the wet season. Average wave heights drop back to around 1.5ft (0.4m), period sits at 11.9s, and the ideal wind window collapses to 8%. SW swell still dominates at 78.4%, but 67.4% of the total is below 2ft (0.5m), leaving just 10.9% in the 1.5-3ft (0.5-1m) category. SSW adds 18.2% and WSW 3.2%; true NW swell remains absent. The wind regime becomes less favourable: W/WNW/NW/NNW onshore directions total 8.1%, the highest share since March, while warm, humid air at 26.6°C and water temps of 28.0°C combine with 6.08mm/day of rain. December is a time to be patient. Sessions are small, but the persistent long-period SW energy can still light up the beach after a passing storm or a clean offshore pulse.
Average Spot conditions at Palplanche in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Palplanche 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 Palplanche for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Palplanche 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 Palplanche.