Conditions at Amado in December
December: Peak Season Fire
December brings the absolute best conditions Amado has to offer. The average swell height ties the annual max at 2.4m (8ft), and the period is a powerful 12.6s. The swell distribution is pure winter gold: northwest at 23.7 percent, west-northwest at 15.1 percent, and north-northwest at 10.9 percent, with a high concentration in the 2-2.5m (6-8ft) and 1.5-2m (5-6ft) bands. This is sustained, heavy groundswell marching straight into the beach. The larger Atlantic storm systems are in full swing, and with a favourable NAO phase, the Portuguese coast becomes the go-to destination for big-wave hunting.
Wind conditions are the most favorable of the entire year, with the ideal offshore wind percentage hitting 29 percent-the annual high. The wind rose shows a healthy mix of north-northeast, east-northeast, and east winds, all of which produce clean, offshore texture at Amado. The frequency of strong, cross-shore/onshore north-northwest winds is at its annual minimum (13.7 percent). This creates a magic window where the best swells meet the best winds. The sea surface is 16.5°C, air temps are a chilly 14.9°C, and rainfall is at its peak at 2.97 mm/day-but those winter cold fronts are precisely what fires up the North Atlantic. December is the month to plan your strike trip, as it offers the highest probability of scoring epic, pumping, hollow surf in glassy conditions.
Average Spot conditions at Amado in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Amado 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 Amado for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Amado 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 Amado.