Conditions at Ribeira das Janelas in December
December: Peak Season Showdown
December is the climax of the European winter swell calendar. Average swell heights reach 8-9ft (2.5-2.7m) and periods sit at 12.6s, with a healthy mix of NNW, NW and N/NNE swells. This is the month where the Mid-Atlantic lows deliver their biggest groundswells, and the beach can occasionally see 15-19s period energy. Wind conditions are favorable for surf around 19% of the time, with S/SSW/SW/WSW breezes offering the offshore direction needed to keep the walls clean. The trade-off is that December is also the wettest month, with 1.63 mm/day of rain, and air temperatures drop to 18.4°C. Water temperature is still a relatively warm 19.7°C. If you pick your swells and wait for a southerly wind, December often produces the biggest, most memorable sessions of the year at Ribeira das Janelas.
Average Spot conditions at Ribeira das Janelas in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ribeira das Janelas 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 Ribeira das Janelas for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ribeira das Janelas 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 Ribeira das Janelas.