Conditions at Playa de La Concha in December
December: The Winter Peak of Clean Potential
December is, statistically, the most consistent month for clean surf at Playa de La Concha. Average swell is 6-7ft (2.0m), average period 12.4s, and the offshore wind frequency peaks at 46% - the highest of the year. The dominant swell directions remain ideal: NW at 28.1%, WNW at 24.4%, NNW at 8.5%, and W at 4.4%. Even the mid-shelf is deep with long-period energy, and 8ft+ (2.5m+) waves show up in the NW/WNW sectors often enough to remind everyone of the ocean's potential.
The synoptic setup is a surfer's dream: a strong Azores High forcing storm tracks across the mid-Atlantic, with S and SSW winds blowing 34.2% of the time in December. That offshore flow combined with 12-13s groundswell creates glassy, pitching peaks along the sandbars. The cost is winter weather: air temp averages 9.9°C, water temp is 14.2°C, and rain is frequent at 3.69mm/day. This is the month to chase the biggest, cleanest La Concha sessions, right in the heart of winter.
Average Spot conditions at Playa de La Concha in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa de La Concha 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 Playa de La Concha for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa de La Concha 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 Playa de La Concha.