Conditions at Matadouro in December
December: Prime Winter Groundswell
December is peak season in every statistical sense. Average swell height is around 8ft (2.5m), the average period is 12.7s, and the Atlantic is loaded with long-period energy. The swell distribution shows NW (21.2%), WNW (15.2%), NNW (11.3%) and W (6.1%), plus a notable WSW (3.0%) component. For a west-facing spot like Matadouro, this is an excellent mix - plenty of power, plenty of size, and more directional variety than the summer months.
What makes December stand out is the wind pattern. Ideal offshore wind is 26% of the time, with ENE/E/ESE/SE directions collectively much more prominent than in October or November. Cold highs over Europe often force easterly drainage winds all the way to the coast, producing some of the cleanest, heaviest sessions of the year. Of course, there are also stormy interludes with strong westerly onshores and XL swell, so routing and timing are everything.
Average air temperature is 12.3°C, water temperature 14.9°C, and precipitation is 2.69mm/day. A 4/3mm hooded wetsuit is recommended; the rewards are serious winter waves.
Average Spot conditions at Matadouro in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Matadouro 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 Matadouro for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Matadouro 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 Matadouro.