Conditions at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay in December
December: The Summer Slump Lands
December brings the year almost full circle, with the average swell height sliding back to 1.2m (3.9ft) and the period at 11.6s. The dominant swell still comes from SSW and SW, totaling over 98 percent of the energy, but the height distribution is top-heavy in the smaller range: 1-1.5m (3-5ft) makes up around 61 percent, while 1.5-2m (5-6.5ft) accounts for only 16 percent. The lack of long, strong periods means Skeleton Bay's sandbar is less consistent, and many days will deliver soft, lumpy lines rather than grinding barrels.
Wind conditions are moderate, with ideal surf wind at 40 percent. S, SSW, SW and WSW flows remain the dominant offshore directions, while onshore N-NW winds sit at 14 percent. Water temperature has warmed to 14.3°C, air temperature averages 18.0°C, and rainfall is only 0.17 mm per day. For the casual surfer, December still offers warm air and rideable waves, but the world-class Skeleton Bay power is largely on holiday until the next autumn build begins.
Average Spot conditions at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay 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 Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay 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 Skeleton Bay / Donkey Bay.