Newgale • Statistics for December

December: Winter's Full Roar

December brings the peak of the winter surf season. Average swell height ties for the year's highest at 5ft (1.6m), with an average period of 8.7s and a large chunk of observations in the 1.5-2m and 2-2.5m range. The swell rose is classic Newgale: WSW 24.5 percent, SW 18.1 percent, W 9.6 percent and SSW 6.0 percent put the beach right in the crosshairs of North Atlantic low pressure systems. Long-period swells in the 10-14s band are common, and during strong winter storms the beach can hold heavy, powerful peaks. The main enemy is the wind, with ideal offshore NNE through E flow only 7 percent of the time and onshore WSW-SW wind contributing 38 percent. Daytime temperatures average 7.7°C, water temperature falls to 10.8°C, and rain is frequent at 4.49 mm/day. The best December days are usually carved out by a passing high pressure ridge, turning the wind offshore for a few hours while the winter groundswell still pulses through.