Conditions at Baleal in December
December: Peak Season Arrives
December is where Baleal earns its reputation as a serious winter wave destination. The average swell height is 2.7m (9ft) and the average period is 12.8s, producing long-period, high-energy groundswell. The swell direction mix includes WNW (13.2%), NW (18.6%) and NNW (10.4%), with west and south-west swells also contributing; this variety helps different sections of the Peniche peninsula to light up. Many of the biggest swells of the year land in December, and the NNE-facing beach breaks start producing steep, fast, powerful waves.
Winds in December are a bit more favorable than November. Ideal surfing wind is 24%, and the offshore S/SSW/SW flow totals about 20%. The bad NNW wind is down to 11.8%, giving surfers more manageable windows. Air temperatures average 13.0°C, water drops to 15.0°C, and precipitation is high at 2.93mm/day. The combination of large groundswell, improving wind odds and winter atmosphere makes December one of the most exciting months of the year for committed surfers.
Average Spot conditions at Baleal in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Baleal 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 Baleal for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Baleal 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 Baleal.