Conditions at Magheroarty in December
December: Deep Winter XL
December closes the year in full winter mode. Average swell height is 10.8ft (3.3m), with an average period of 12.2s, keeping Magheroarty firmly in the big-wave arena. The swell direction is still heavily westerly - W 7.9%, WNW 6.1%, NNW 4.4%, NW 4.2% - and the over-2.5m category is well represented, particularly from W and WNW. These are heavy, powerful, XL-class waves with a lot of water moving across the Atlantic shelf.
Ideal offshore winds are scarce at 9%, and the prevailing S/SW/WSW winds often blow 20-40km/h, giving the waves a combed but sometimes wind-affected surface. The bad N/NW/NNW quadrant remains a frequent spoiler. Water temp is a cold 9.7°C, air temps average 5.8°C, and precipitation is at its annual peak of 4.88mm/day. December is the apex of Irish winter surfing: charging, raw and rewarding for those who can handle the cold and the size.
Average Spot conditions at Magheroarty in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Magheroarty 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 Magheroarty for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Magheroarty 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 Magheroarty.