Conditions at Yoff Beach in December
December: Big Lines, Hard to Catch Clean
December ushers in the peak of the North Atlantic surf season. Average swell height is 5.5ft (1.7m), average period 12.5s, and the swell direction is heavily weighted toward the NNW - which, while not exactly the N-NE optimum, is the classic west African winter groundswell that can light up the lineup. NNW contributes a massive 73.7%, with NW at 9.6% and even some N (6.6%) and NNE (4.1%). The height distribution shows 33.2% in the 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) bracket and 14.7% in the 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) range, so there are pumping waves to be had.
If only the wind would cooperate. The trade winds are at their strongest, with NNE at 38.5%, NE at 19.1%, and N at 21.2% - a relentless onshore blast. Ideal wind is down to 1%, equal to the winter minimum. Water temperature has dropped to 24.0°C, air to 23.9°C, and dry conditions prevail with just 0.46mm/day of rain. This is the month for big-wave guns who don't mind a battle, waiting for the rare southerly shift to turn Yoff into a world-class wave.
Average Spot conditions at Yoff Beach in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Yoff Beach 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 Yoff Beach for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Yoff Beach 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 Yoff Beach.