Conditions at El Muelle in December
December: Serious Groundswell Meets the Shortest Days
December is the peak of the winter swell season. The average height is 2.1m (6.9ft), the average period is a powerful 12.6s, and the swell rose is packed with NNW (31.0%), NW (19.2%), WNW (8.1%), and N (8.1%). This is pure, long-period groundswell energy. More importantly, a higher percentage of those waves arrive in the 2-2.5m (6-8ft) range, with meaningful overhead-plus sets from the NW quadrant. When a deep Atlantic low parks itself west of the British Isles, El Muelle can hold serious size.
December also ticks up to 10% ideal wind, equal to the best of the year. The NE/NNE winds are still present (NE 21.3%, NNE 15.8%), but the stronger winter storms provide more frequent southwest and west wind shifts, giving surfers a legitimate chance at clean, glassy periods. Water temperature is 20.2°C, air temperature averages 18.9°C, and rainfall is the highest of the year at 0.55mm/day. In December, El Muelle is a genuine winter wave destination - if you are willing to sit through the wind for the perfect day.
Average Spot conditions at El Muelle in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at El Muelle 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 El Muelle for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at El Muelle 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 El Muelle.