Conditions at Riptides in December
December: Back to the Northeast Monsoon Grind
The cycle closes with the return of the Northeast Monsoon, and December is a step backward for Riptides. Average height remains around 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m), and the period drops to 7.5s, making the surf feel weaker and more wind-affected. The swell direction flips back to ENE and E, combining for nearly 58 percent of the total, with a notable 30.7 percent from ENE alone. That is the classic NE monsoon swell, but the problem is the wind: NE and ENE account for 45 percent of all observations, and ideal offshore winds are down to 30 percent. Days are dominated by bumpy, onshore and around 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) closeouts, with the occasional 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) pulse from ENE when the trades strengthen. There are still clean windows when a NW or NNW flow pushes in, but they are intermittent. Air temps average 27.3°C, water temperature is 28.6°C, and rainfall is 5.55mm/day. Unless a strong W/NW pattern sets up, December is usually a month for watching the reef from the boat, not surfing it.
Average Spot conditions at Riptides in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Riptides 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 Riptides for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Riptides 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 Riptides.