Conditions at Parede in December
December: Peak Winter Thump
December is the crown jewel of the Portuguese winter. Average swell height hits 8ft (2.4m) and the period runs a strong 12.7s, bringing serious, open-ocean groundswell right into the region. The directional spread is more favorable than mid-winter: the S/SW-to-WSW window totals around 6% - the highest of the year - while NW (23%) and WNW (17%) still dominate the background. For Parede, that combination means more days when the energy has a real southern component and the wave actually lines up on the sandbars.
Winds remain favorable, with ideal offshore directions around 46% and a healthy mix of ENE (11%), NNE (8%), NE (7%) and N (6%) keeping surfaces clean between cold fronts. Air temperature averages 13.8°C, water temp is 15.5°C, and rainfall is 2.67mm/day. A good 4/3 plus booties in the early morning will handle it; the winter slabs of Parede will do the rest.
Average Spot conditions at Parede in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Parede 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 Parede for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Parede 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 Parede.