Conditions at Martinhal in December
December: Winter Solstice High Tide of Swell
December closes the year with maximum Atlantic size. The average swell height stands at around 8ft (2.4m), the period is a thumping 12.6s, and the bay is regularly hit by 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) waves from NW at 23.7%, WNW at 15.1%, NNW at 10.9%, W at 5.2% and WSW at 2.5%. This is the heart of the surfing season, though the ideal-wind score drops to 20% due to an increase in east-southeast winds associated with continental high pressure and frontal sequences. That means the best days require patience: you want the swell to overlap with a NNW/NW offshore flow, usually right after a cold front clears. Air temps average 14.9°C, water drops to 16.6°C, and precipitation is the highest of the year at 2.97mm/day. The payoff is big, powerful, session-of-the-year potential for those who pick the right wind window.
Average Spot conditions at Martinhal in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Martinhal 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 Martinhal for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Martinhal 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 Martinhal.