Conditions at Waimea in December
December: The Bay Fires Again
December locks Waimea into full winter mode. Average swell height ties January at 8.8ft (2.7m), with a powerful average period of 12.4s. NNW is the standout direction at 14.1%, followed by NNE (7.9%), ENE (7.8%), NE (7.1%), N (4.1%) and NW (4.1%). Most of this energy sits in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) classes, with a generous helping of XXL swell over 8ft (2.5m+) - the kind of conditions that put Waimea on the front page. The wind field is more mixed than summer: E at 29.1% and ENE at 24.8% still lead, but ESE (8.6%) and SSE (2.0%) contribute offshore flow, making ideal conditions 26% of the time. Water temp cools to 24.8°C, air temps average 23.6°C, and rain increases to 2.29mm/day. This is the payoff month for North Shore surfers.
Average Spot conditions at Waimea in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Waimea 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 Waimea for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Waimea 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 Waimea.