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South Africa- Sunset Reef
Conditions at Sunset Reef in December
December: Warm Water, Smaller Waves
December is high summer at Sunset Reef. The average swell height is 2.3m (7.5ft) with an 11.3s period, making it one of the smallest months of the year in terms of raw energy. The swell direction is still mostly SSW and SW, with those two directions combining for over 42% of the wave rose, but the size is concentrated in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range rather than the heavy winter classes. SE and SSE winds dominate the month, together accounting for over 46% of observations, and the ideal wind score drops to 11%. When the Cape Doctor blows at moderate strength, the reef can still produce clean, rippable waves, but the stronger days become bumpy and challenging. Water temperature rises to 17.8°C, air temperature averages 19.1°C, and precipitation is low at 0.42mm per day. It is a beautiful summer month for being in the water, but Sunset Reef's biggest and best wave days are several months away.
Average Spot conditions at Sunset Reef in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sunset Reef 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 Sunset Reef for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sunset Reef 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 Sunset Reef.