Conditions at Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo in December
December: Peak Winter Swell Meets the Shortest Days
December marks the climax of the winter swell season at Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo. Average swell heights hit 6ft (1.9m) - among the highest of the year - while the mean period of 10.3s puts the surf squarely in powerful, long-period territory. The S/SSW/SW window expands to roughly 14% of the wave rose, and within that window SW is dominant, with substantial class in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range and occasional larger bombs. Storm after storm moves across the North Atlantic, and every time the low-pressure axis tilts favourably, this south-facing shore gets exposed to raw, grinding groundswell.
The biggest limiting factor remains wind. N/NNE/NE/NNW offshore flow is precious - only about 8% of the time do we get the right combination of clean wind and workable swell. Onshore S/SSW/SW winds dominate nearly 27% of observations, especially before and during frontal passages. Air temperatures average a cool 16.2°C (min 10.9°C, max 20.9°C), water temperature is 17.3°C, and rainfall is the highest of the year at 3.75mm/day. December is a true winter surf month: challenging, changeable, and occasionally world-class.
Average Spot conditions at Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo 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 Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo 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 Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo.