Conditions at Praia da Barra in December
December: Peak Winter Gold
December tops the charts for consistency. Average wave height is 8ft (2.4m), periods run deep at 12.6s, and the wind is ideal for surfing 51 percent of the time, the highest of any month. Dominant swell directions are NW, WNW and W, with a strong dose of WSW and SW that keeps the swell window wide open. Climatologically, the storm track is in full swing, and every few days another low-pressure system sends long-period energy toward Portugal. When the offshore NE/ENE/E wind combines with a solid WNW groundswell, Praia da Barra is a serious, heavy beach break. Water temp is 14.2°C, air temp averages 11.1°C, and winter rain keeps the sandbanks changing. Expect powerful, hollow, overhead-to-double-overhead surf throughout the month.
Average Spot conditions at Praia da Barra in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia da Barra 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 Praia da Barra for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia da Barra 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 Praia da Barra.