Conditions at Caldera in December
December: Trade Winds Return, So Does Flatness
December closes the year with the strongest return of the northeast trade wind regime. NNE (19.4%) and NE (18.7%) are the top two wind directions, producing offshore flow at Caldera, though speeds are almost always in the 0-10kph range. The average swell height drops to under 1ft (0.2m), the lowest reading of the year, and the average period sits at 12.1s. SSW remains the dominant swell direction at 69.1%, but it is essentially all micro-swell below 2ft (0.6m). The only 2-3ft (0.5-1m) readings come from the shadowed NE direction. With precipitation down to 0.91mm/day, air temperatures around 26.3°C, and water temperature at 28.1°C, December offers beautiful, glassy tropical conditions at a mostly asleep ocean. This is the statistical heart of the low surf season, so keep expectations low and enjoy the scenery.
Average Spot conditions at Caldera in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Caldera 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 Caldera for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Caldera 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 Caldera.