Conditions at Meia Praia in December
December: High Winter - Big Swell and Cold Offshore Grooming
December closes the year with a strong winter statement. Average swell height is back up to around 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m), average period 12.3s, and ideal wind 31%. Swell from WNW (28%) and NW (25%) dominates, but WSW (7%) and SW (4%) add direct energy from the preferred southwest window. Long-period Atlantic groundswell is a regular feature, and when the swell direction tilts south of west, Meia Praia can see powerful, well-organized waves.
Winds are more mixed than in October: NNW (16%) remains offshore, but E (9%) and ESE (9%) are also common, bringing cross-shore texture. Water temperature falls to 16.7°C, air averages 14.9°C, and precipitation is at its wettest, 2.97mm/day. The reward is some of the biggest, heaviest surf of the year - 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) on the best SW/WSW groundswells - for those willing to hunt the windows between winter storms.
Average Spot conditions at Meia Praia in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Meia Praia 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 Meia Praia for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Meia Praia 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 Meia Praia.