Conditions at Sandvik in December
December: Solstice Swell and Darkness
December brings the winter solstice, short daylight and maximum Atlantic turbulence. Average swell height is 7.5ft (2.3m) with an 11.4s period, and the swell rose shows SW (13.6%), SSW (10.8%), WSW (7.5%) and S (7.7%) doing the heavy lifting. The long fetch of mid-Atlantic cyclones aimed at Iceland is ideal for this west-southwest exposure. The offshore quadrant from NE through E is actually frequent in terms of wind direction-over 30%-but ideal surfing conditions make up just 11% of the month, meaning many of those winds blow too hard or are still mixed with storm energy. Air temperatures average 1.5°C with lows near -8.5°C, water temperature sits at 5.8°C, and precipitation is high at 5.00mm/day. It is dark, cold and occasionally epic; for the dedicated surfer, a December offshore window at Sandvik is pure North Atlantic gold.
Average Spot conditions at Sandvik in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sandvik 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 Sandvik for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sandvik 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 Sandvik.