Coffee Bay • Statistics for December

December: Trade-Wind Summer - Choose Your Windows

December rounds out the year with classic Wild Coast summer conditions. The average swell height drops to 1.9m (6ft), the average period remains at 9.6s, and ideal offshore wind drops to 13%, the joint lowest of the year. The positive note is that the swell direction distribution fits Coffee Bay's preferred window quite well: SSE (15.4%), SE (11.4%), E (10.3%), and ESE (10.1%) are all active, and S (21.2%) continue to deliver wraparound groundswell. Waves are generally in the 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) range, although the shorter period means they're punchy and can be sections rather than long walls. The persistent NE (19.4%) and ENE (19.6%) trade winds are the biggest obstacle, often turning the surface bumpy and cross-shore. But the mornings are often glassy, and when the offshore W/NW flow does show up - rare but very possible - the bay can still throw really fun waves. Water temp is a warm 22.9°C, air temps 22.5°C, and the humidity and rainfall (3.14 mm/day) remind you it's a subtropical summer. Pick your moments, surf early, and stay sharp.