Conditions at Ponta do Pargo in December
December: Winter's Heavy Hitter
December doesn't let up. Average swell height sits around 8-9ft (2.4-2.6m) with a very healthy 12.6s period-one of the best combinations of size and interval at Ponta do Pargo. The swell direction data show NNW at 19.9%, NW at 14.5%, and a slightly bigger W/WNW/WSW presence than November. This makes for excellent west-facing surf, with long, powerful Atlantic groundswell wrapping into the island. Ideal offshore/easterly winds appear 42% of the time-usually in the wake of cold fronts under building high pressure-and those windows can be truly epic.
Air temps cool to 18.6°C (min 14.5°C, max 21.7°C), water temps drop to 19.9°C, and precipitation is frequent at 1.52 mm/day. Storms rolling off North America are now at their climatological peak. Catch a day with a light E/ESE breeze and a solid NW groundswell, and Ponta do Pargo will deliver head-high to over-head, offshore perfection; on the biggest pulses, it can easily reach XXL. A good 5/4 wetsuit is your best travel buddy.
Average Spot conditions at Ponta do Pargo in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ponta do Pargo 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 Ponta do Pargo for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ponta do Pargo 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 Ponta do Pargo.