Conditions at Croyde in December
December: Winter's Doorstep
December closes the year with full winter form. Average swell pumps to 6.9ft (2.1m), average period reaches 10.6s, and the Atlantic storm track is in full swing. The wave rose is still dominated by W (21.2%) and WSW (19.9%) directions, with useful contributions from SW and WNW; a fair bit of easterly windswell can also show up when the offshore wind blows hard, although that offers little for the surfer. The main issue is wind: only 8% of the time is the wind ideal, the lowest of the year. Strong SW-WSW frontal winds account for a large share of observations, and storms frequently pin Croyde with raw onshore conditions. Still, the persistent energy means 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) waves are common on the face, and cold continental highs to the east occasionally deliver offshore ENE-E-ESE winds that transform the beach into a hollow, powerful arena. Water temp drops to 10.5°C, air temp averages 7.4°C, and rainfall peaks at 4.25 mm/day. This is the month for serious winter surfers only.
Average Spot conditions at Croyde in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Croyde 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 Croyde for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Croyde 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 Croyde.