Conditions at Contreiras in December
December: Winter Peak and Holiday Swell
December closes the year with consistent, powerful winter surf. Average swell height is 2.5m (8ft) and the average period is 12.6s, putting Contreiras squarely in firing mode. The swell direction is again NW-heavy: NNW leads at 19.9 percent, NW at 14.5 percent, WNW at 6.7 percent, with N at 5.1 percent and NNE at 5.5 percent. The wave-height distribution is robust, with a large concentration in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) classes and enough over-2.5m (8ft+) readings to keep things heavy. Wind is still the wildcard, as NE and NNE flow combine for around 26 percent, but the SSW-SW-WSW-W offshore quadrant remains active, giving ideal wind conditions roughly 19 percent of the time. December storms can be intense, so those offshore windows are often brief but beautifully clean. Air temperatures range from 14.3-21.7°C, water temperature is 19.5°C, and precipitation is at its highest, 1.63mm/day. When the charts align, Contreiras delivers some of the most memorable, heavy, long-period waves of the entire year.
Average Spot conditions at Contreiras in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Contreiras 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 Contreiras for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Contreiras 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 Contreiras.