Conditions at Albufeira in December
December: Winter Solstice Swell
December delivers the most robust and consistent winter surf of the year at Albufeira. Average swell height is 1.0m (3ft), average period is 11.0s, and ideal wind is 29%. The dominant swell-height class remains 0.5-1m (1.5-3ft), but the distribution extends well into 1-1.5m (3-5ft) and 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) from WSW and SW. W (17.1%) and WNW (15.4%) provide heavy background west energy, while the S/SW directions (S 2.8%, SSW 3.7%, SW 7.9%) give the spot the direct, groomed lines it needs. A negative NAO pattern often steers the Atlantic storm track straight at Iberia, and there is no better month for that happening. Wind is favorable across N (4.8%), NNE (7.0%), NE (6.2%) and NNW (15.8%), giving plenty of offshore windows between fronts. Water is 16.6°C, air is 14.0°C, and rain is frequent at 2.75mm/day. The waves may not be XXL, but the combination of quality, period and consistency makes December one of the most reliable surf months on the southern Algarve.
Average Spot conditions at Albufeira in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Albufeira 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 Albufeira for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Albufeira 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 Albufeira.