Conditions at Leja da Palmeira in December
December: Peak Season Fire
December is where the Portuguese winter surf season reaches full flower. The numbers say it all: an average swell height of 8ft (2.5m), a powerful average period of 12.5s, and the highest ideal-wind percentage of the year at 49 percent. Swell energy is split primarily between NW at 19.8 percent and WNW at 18.5 percent, with W at 7.8 percent, WSW at 3.6 percent and SW at 2.2 percent adding the westerly components that are so critical to Leja da Palmeira. Meanwhile, the wind data shows the eastern side of the compass in full effect: E at 13.3 percent, ESE at 9.2 percent, ENE at 7.3 percent, plus an important contribution from the S and SSE directions. That mix spells offshore, groomed conditions for a west-facing beach. The water is cold at 13.9°C and air temperatures hover near 11.3°C with 4.37 mm/day of rain, but every surfer knows the trade-off. This is the month to mark on the calendar: long-period, powerful NW swells and glassy, offshore mornings at Leja da Palmeira.
Average Spot conditions at Leja da Palmeira in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Leja da Palmeira 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 Leja da Palmeira for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Leja da Palmeira 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 Leja da Palmeira.