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Zambujeira do Mar - surf spot statistics
Zambujeira do Mar seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (December - February)
The heart of the North Atlantic winter delivers its full fury to Zambujeira do Mar during these months. Average swell heights hover around a solid 2.4-2.5m with long periods averaging 12.7-13.1s, meaning consistent powerful groundswell from the NW and WNW dominant corridors. The wind ideal percentage peaks at 46-47%, offering a high chance of light offshore flow from the WSW to WNW quadrants. This is the prime window for pumping, hollow waves on the west-facing beach.
Fair Surf Season (October - November & March - April)
Shoulder months see a gradual build or fade of winter energy. October and November average 1.9-2.2m with 11.5-12.1s periods, while March and April drop to 1.9-2.2m with 11.2-12.4s. Swell direction remains dominated by NW, but the wind ideal percentage falls to 23-43%, making conditions more fickle. You'll still find fun, rippable waves on the cleaner days, but expect occasional onshore chop from NW winds.
Low Surf Season (May - September)
Summer brings a dramatic lull. Average swell heights drop to 1.4-1.6m with periods of 8.4-10.0s, producing mostly small, weak waves. The dominant swell becomes overly NW with a high percentage of NNW wind, and the ideal wind percentage plummets to 9-19%. Most days deliver choppy, groveling conditions with a strong seabreeze effect. Only occasional long-period pulses from distant storms can salvage a session, but it's a quiet period overall.
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Conditions at Zambujeira do Mar in December
December: Peak Winter Consistency
December averages 2.4m height and 12.7s period, with a wind ideal percentage of 47% — the highest of the year. Swell is dominated by NW (25.1%) and WNW (16.8%), with a notable uptick in WSW swells (2.5%) adding variety. The wind distribution shifts to favor lighter E and NE breezes (total from N to SE over 50%), which blow offshore and groom the faces. This combination yields the most reliable quality surf of the year. Long-period, heavy groundswell from intense lows slams into the coast, and with the right wind, Zambujeira offers some of Portugal's finest beachbreak. December is the high season for a good reason.
Average Spot conditions at Zambujeira do Mar in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Zambujeira do Mar 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 Zambujeira do Mar for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Zambujeira do Mar 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 Zambujeira do Mar.