Conditions at Santa Barbara in December
December: Winter's Crowning Glory
December ties January for the year's biggest average swell at 2.9m (9.5ft), with a strong 11.9s average period. The wave rose shows a broad spread of W through NNW swell, with NW at 7.9%, NNW at 9.7%, WNW at 6.0%, and direct north-easterly swells less common. However, when N/NNE/NE/ENE groundswell combines with the frequent SW winds - offshore for Santa Barbara - this beach can hold serious, pumping waves. The wind data is actually promising for winter: S/SSW/SW/WSW totals about 32%, the largest offshore-sourced share of the year, although ideal conditions remain only 14% due to strength and direction variations. December is wet (3.30 mm/day), with water temps at 17.7°C and air around 16.7°C. It is the classic month for heavy Atlantic swell and proper winter sessions.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Barbara in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.