Conditions at Ribeira Quente in December
December: Dark-Season Heavyweights
December is climatologically the biggest month for regional surf. The average swell height is 9.2ft (2.8m) and period 12.1 seconds - end-of-year Atlantic storms are delivering maximum punch. But the wave distribution stubbornly favors NNW/NW/WNW, which means the beach breaks, rather than the protective bay, are the beneficiaries. Ribeira Quente's golden moments come during the all-too-brief windows when the low's position spins the swell direction into the S/SSE/SSW quadrant. December has the highest frequency of SSE/SSW energy of the year - not by much, but enough to create several potential sessions.
Wind is the final filter. Ideal offshore flow is only 25 percent, and the dominant winds are SW/WSW at 10-20-30kph. The weather is raw: air temps average 17.1°C (with lows near 12.2°C), sea temp dips to 17.7°C, and precipitation hits 3.14 mm/day, making for stormy atmospherics. We would call December the quintessential 'luck-through-the-slot' month. If you get a day with a S/SW groundswell and a N/NNW wind, you'll see the most exciting waves of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Ribeira Quente in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ribeira Quente 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 Ribeira Quente for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ribeira Quente 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 Ribeira Quente.