Conditions at Porto da Cruz in December
December: Midwinter Depth and Long-Period Swell
December brings the full power of the Atlantic winter. Average swell climbs to around 8ft (2.4m), average period stretches to 12.6s, and the ideal offshore wind window sits at a solid 26%. The swell rose is loaded with NNW at 19.9%, NW at 14.5% and W-NW at 6.7%, while true N-NNE directions contribute around 11% - still enough for Porto da Cruz to catch the more open ocean energy. When long-period groundswell meets southwesterly offshore flow, the northeast-facing points and beaches set up for some of the most critical, hollow waves of the year. Storm tracks swinging south under the Azores High can deliver pumping, overhead surf in the 8-12ft (2.4-3.7m) range. Water temperature is 19.6°C, air averages 18.4°C, and rainfall is the highest of the year at 1.63mm/day, so bring the rubber and a good raincoat.
Average Spot conditions at Porto da Cruz in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Porto da Cruz 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 Porto da Cruz for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Porto da Cruz 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 Porto da Cruz.