Conditions at Barbate in December
December: Peak Season Arrives
December delivers the beginning of Barbate's prime surf season in earnest. Average swell height is back up to 1.4m (4.6ft) with a solid 11.0s period, and ideal offshore winds blow 40% of the time, the second-best rate of the year. The persistent winter storm track across the North Atlantic sends regular groundswell down the Iberian coast, and although the largest energy direction is WNW/W, Barbate's south-facing exposure is best served when those systems swing to the south or southwest. The northerly offshore wind pattern is well established-NNW and NW combined account for over 21% of the wind-providing frequent clean windows. E/ESE Levante still appears, but it no longer dominates. Water temperature is 16.7°C, air averages 14.7°C, and rainfall is high at 3.24 mm/day. If you only surf one stretch of the year in southern Spain, December through February is the call.
Average Spot conditions at Barbate in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Barbate 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 Barbate for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Barbate 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 Barbate.