Conditions at Barley Cove in December
December: Raw Winter Power, Rare Clean Windows
December is winter in its rawest form. Average swell is 10.2ft (3.1m), period is 11.7s, and the percentage of ideal wind drops to the year's lowest at 17 percent. This is when the North Atlantic is fully animated: deep low pressure systems, powerful frontal systems, and long-period groundswell everywhere. But for a south-facing beach, the devil is in the direction and wind. The wave rose still favours W and WSW, while south-quadrant swell, though present, is a smaller piece of a giant wave field. Wind data confirm why the spot is so difficult in December - WSW, W and WNW combine for a huge share of the wind, and SSW is not far behind, meaning onshore and cross-shore conditions are the norm. The rare December gem is unforgettable: an arctic high nudging into the British Isles, NNW offshore flow, and 12-14s swell wrapping into Barley Cove. Water temperature is 10.6°C, air averages 9.1°C, and rain is 5.19 mm/day - bring the thickest wetsuit and all the patience you have.
Average Spot conditions at Barley Cove in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Barley Cove 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 Barley Cove for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Barley Cove 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 Barley Cove.