Thurso East • Statistics for December

December: Winter Solstice Swells

December closes the year with a deep breath of Atlantic power. Average swell height is 2.0m (6.5ft) and average period hits 11.7s - right in the powerful-to-very-powerful range. The swell directions are classic winter: WNW 17.0%, NNW 14.5%, W 14.3%, NW 8.9%, plus solid N and NNE contributions (4.6% combined). Many of the largest daily averages of the year occur this month, and when a strong negative or positive NAO phase aligns a polar low with the north coast, Thurso East can produce slabby, critical, charging waves that attract photographers from around the world.

The wind climatology is similar to mid-winter: SSW and SW dominate (10.8% and 10.7%), with WSW 11.1% and a solid S/SSE offshore component (10.2% and 9.2%). Ideal wind percentages are a relatively generous 30% as high pressure systems occasionally stall over Scandinavia, pulling offshore south-easterlies across the Moray Firth side. Water temp is 9.6°C (49°F), air temp 5.0°C (41°F), precipitation 3.23 mm/day. Expect dark, raw, powerful - and utterly unforgettable when it comes together.