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Conditions at Playa Grande in December
December: Trade-Wind Swell Returns in Force
December closes the year the way the dry season began: with serious NE trade-wind swell and a whole lot of onshore wind. Average height jumps to 1.7m (5.5ft) and the period settles at 8.0s; the swell rose shows 80.9% from the NE, 8.7% from the NNE, and a slightly healthier N/NNW presence than the summer months. The wind, however, is brutal: NE (45.8%) and NNE (22.1%) dominate, and ideal offshore conditions are down to just 3%. The beach is full of powerful, choppy, short-period waves - think 5-7ft (1.5-2.1m) with lumpy faces. Rainfall drops to 3.79mm/day and water is 28.2C, so winter sessions are warm but windblown. For the dedicated surfer, the best chance is an early dawn patrol before the trades peak and a reef or point that can offer some shelter.
Average Spot conditions at Playa Grande in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Playa Grande 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 Playa Grande for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Playa Grande 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 Playa Grande.