Conditions at L'Ideale in December
December: Peak Season in the Tyrrhenian
December is statistically the highest-energy month of the year at L'Ideale. Average swell height reaches around 3-3.5ft (1.0m), period hits 5.2s, and ideal wind remains at 13%. The swell rose is built around SW (12.8%) and WSW (11.2%), but unlike summer, there is real size loaded into those sectors: a combined 6.5% of all observations occur in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range from the SW-WSW quadrant, with a sprinkling of 8ft+ (2.5m+) energy from WSW. The Mediterranean is at its stormiest, and repeated frontal passages spell consistent, rideable surf.
NNE/NE winds are frequent in December at over 26% combined, but the 13% ideal wind windows - NW, WNW, W and WSW - produce the glassy, groomed conditions this spot craves. When a strong winter low deepens in the Gulf of Genoa and moves over the Tyrrhenian, L'Ideale can reach firing, 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) standards with long-period overtones. Air temps average 11.1°C, water temps have fallen to 15.9°C, and rain is significant at 2.87mm/day. Winter wetsuits are mandatory; this is the pinnacle of the surf calendar.
Average Spot conditions at L'Ideale in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at L'Ideale 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 L'Ideale for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at L'Ideale 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 L'Ideale.