Conditions at Guincho in December
December: Winter's Heavyweight Champion
December grinds into gear with the same kind of heavyweight energy as January and February. Average swell runs around 8ft (2.4m) on a 12.7s period, and the swell rose is loaded across the NW, WNW and NNW directions, with plenty of waves in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.4m) range and a genuine share over 8ft (2.4m). This is full-on winter groundswell. What sets December apart is the wind: the eastern quadrant is more active than any other time of year - E totals 8.9%, ENE 7.9%, ESE 6.2% - pushing the ideal wind percentage up to 25%. That combination is magic: big WNW/NW groundswell hitting the west-northwest-facing beach while an offshore east wind grooms the faces. The result is some of the heaviest, most photogenic surf of the year, often under crisp winter skies with passing showers and a cooling 15.4°C water. Air temps hover around 14°C, so come prepared for a serious workout. If you only have one month to chase XXL winter waves in Portugal, December at Guincho will not disappoint.
Average Spot conditions at Guincho in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Guincho 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 Guincho for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Guincho 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 Guincho.