Conditions at Cortegaoa in December
December: The Peak of the Season
December is statistically one of the best months of the year at Cortegaoa. Average swell height is 5-6ft (1.7m) with a 12.3s period, and the wind is ideal a whopping 48% of the time - tied with January for the highest of the year. The waves are dominated by W (18.7%), WNW (38.5%), and NW (20.7%), providing a consistent assault of long-period groundswell. Crucially, the offshore wind patterns (E at 12.2%, ESE at 8.2%, SSE etc.) are frequent, keeping the surface glassy despite the heavy Atlantic energy. Winter storms in the North Atlantic are in full swing, and Cortegaoa is on the front line. Air temps are cold at 11.3°C (52°F), water at 14.0°C (57°F), and rain averages 4.37 mm/day. If you want big, powerful, clean waves, December is hard to beat.
Average Spot conditions at Cortegaoa in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cortegaoa 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 Cortegaoa for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cortegaoa 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 Cortegaoa.