Conditions at Praia da Rocha in December
December: Winter Solstice, Peak Groundswell
December closes the year with serious Atlantic power. Average swell height is back up to 4.6ft (1.4m), tied for the biggest of the year, and the average period sits at a strong 12.3s. The swell distribution is beautifully mixed: WNW 27.5%, NW 24.9%, W 11.5%, WSW 6.6% and SW 3.8%, with the combined S-SSW-SW-WSW window at about 13.7%. That gives Praia da Rocha both size and quality when the direction tilts south of west. Ideal offshore wind is at 37%, and the season's strongest frontal systems can deliver serious groundswell events if the timing aligns, though rare XL conditions are not the norm in the averages. Water temperature cools to 16.7°C, air averages 14.9°C, and rain peaks at 2.97mm/day. The Christmas holidays are prime time for long-period groundswell and classic Algarve peaks.
Average Spot conditions at Praia da Rocha in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Praia da Rocha 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 Praia da Rocha for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Praia da Rocha 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 Praia da Rocha.