Conditions at Salinas in December
December: Consistent Winter Gold
December may be the most consistent month of the year at Salinas. The average swell is 5.2ft (1.6m) with a 12.4s period, and ideal offshore winds peak at a year-best 60%. The Azores High is suppressed, Atlantic lows parade eastward, and the beach feels the brunt of NW (39%), WNW (18%) and NNW (18%) swells with very long intervals. A large percentage of those waves fall in the 3-6ft (1-2m) fun-to-pumping range, and the NW direction regularly produces 6-8ft (2-2.5m+) bombs. The offshore sector - S, SSW, SW and WSW - accounts for a large share of the wind rose, giving December the cleanest surfaces of the year. Water temp is 13.8°C, air averages 9.2°C, and holiday swell is almost guaranteed. It's a fitting climax to the winter season, and a strong NAO-negative stretch can turn Salinas into a serious heavy-water venue.
Average Spot conditions at Salinas in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Salinas 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 Salinas for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Salinas 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 Salinas.