Conditions at Madalena do Mar in December
December: The Winter Engine
December locks in the winter program with an average swell of 8.2ft (2.5m) and a 12.6s period. The North Atlantic is firing, and the data shows a more mixed swell direction than the previous months: NNW (19.9%), NW (14.5%), WNW (6.7%), N (5.1%) and NNE (5.5%), plus the largest WSW (0.9%) and W (2.0%) presence of the winter. For a beach facing SSW, this is significant, because it means more direct south-west and west-south-west energy in the mix, not just north-west wrap. Wind quality is the main challenge: ideal offshore flow drops to 39%, and the south-easterly through south-westerly wind sectors become more active with the storm systems. But when a cold front passes and the wind clocks into the NNE/NE window, Madalena do Mar can deliver powerful, well-shaped waves. Air temps average 17.7°C, precipitation is the heaviest of the year at 1.80mm/day, and water temp sits at 19.9°C. This is a month to watch the charts and move fast when the wind and swell finally sync up.
Average Spot conditions at Madalena do Mar in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Madalena do Mar 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 Madalena do Mar for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Madalena do Mar 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 Madalena do Mar.