Conditions at Matosinhos in December
December: Winter Arrives with Force
December delivers the full power of winter. Average swell heights run around 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) with the period stretching back to 12.3s. The wave rose is packed with WNW (39%), NW (21%) and W (19%), plus a slightly more active WSW component; about a third of the surf is in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range and occasional 8ft+ (2.5m+) days appear when the lows line up. Ideal wind is 47%, with cold, dry E/NE flows under the high pressure cell often providing classic offshore winter conditions. When the storms are nearby, southerly winds will muck things up, but the post-frontal windows can be truly memorable. Water temp is 13.9°C, air temps average 11.3°C, and precipitation is steady at 4.37 mm/day. A thick winter wetsuit, a solid quiver, and a good weather eye are the keys to unlocking December at Matosinhos.
Average Spot conditions at Matosinhos in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Matosinhos 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 Matosinhos for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Matosinhos 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 Matosinhos.