Conditions at Santa Catarina in December
December: Peak Season Fire
December is statistically the biggest month of the year at Santa Catarina. The average open-ocean swell height reaches 10ft (3.1m), with a long-period average of 12.0s, and multiple NW at 8.0% and NNW at 8.7% pulses roll through, supported by WNW at 5.2% and W at 2.9%. This is when the North Atlantic storm track is firing on all cylinders, and a negative-phase NAO can stack powerful swells across the Portuguese coast. The wind rose shows SW at 10.1%, WSW at 9.3%, SSW at 9.1% and S at 7.7% as the most common directions, which are offshore and can groom the surf, yet ideal riding days are just 12% due to frequent strong winds. Expect genuine XL days when the swell exceeds 8ft (2.5m), mixed with stormy, lumpy conditions that demand local knowledge. Sea temperature drops to 17.2°C (63°F), air averages 16.8°C (62°F), and December is the wettest month at 3.53mm/day. For well-prepared surfers, this is the crown jewel of the winter season.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Catarina in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Catarina 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 Catarina for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Catarina 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 Catarina.