Bathtub Beach seasonal overview
Bathtub Beach in the United States offers variable surf conditions throughout the year, with the best months for surfers typically occurring in the late fall and early winter. November stands out as the most favorable month, featuring a higher percentage of ground swell (17%) and wind swell (58%), combined with the lowest likelihood of no swell (25%). The mean swell size peaks at 0.8 meters, and wind conditions are relatively better than in other months, though still challenging with 89% unfavorable winds. October and December also provide decent conditions, with October showing a good balance of ground swell (16%), wind swell (52%), and a mean swell size of 0.7 meters, while December mirrors November with 19% ground swell and 0.7-meter swells. Winter months like January and February see moderate ground swell (14%) but suffer from poor wind conditions (88-90% unfavorable), though the swell size holds at 0.6 meters. March sees a slight improvement with 19% ground swell and 0.7-meter waves but remains hindered by very high bad wind percentages (91%). The spring and summer months, particularly from May through August, are the least optimal, with minimal ground swell (0-9%), high percentages of no swell (52-92%), and very poor wind conditions (94-99%). September shows a slight recovery as fall approaches, but it’s not as consistent as the late fall and early winter months. Overall, surfers will find the most reliable waves from October through December, with November being the standout month despite the persistently challenging wind conditions.
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Conditions at Bathtub Beach in December
December at Bathtub Beach typically offers small but surfable conditions, with an average swell height of 0.7m and a decent 9.0s period, providing some consistency. The swell direction is predominantly ENE (32.86% of waves in the 0.5-1m range), delivering the cleanest and most rideable waves, though smaller ENE swells (19.33% in the 0-0.5m range) may lack power. Larger swells (1.5-2m) are rare (1.75%), limiting big-wave opportunities. Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 12% of days offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds—predominantly from the NW-NNE. Stronger onshore winds (10-30kph) from E-ENE are common, creating choppier conditions. Overall, expect smaller, weaker waves with occasional clean sessions when wind angles align, making it a spot better suited for longboarding or beginner-intermediate surfers in December.
Average Spot conditions at Bathtub Beach in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Bathtub 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 Bathtub Beach for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Bathtub 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 Bathtub Beach.
