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Conditions at Saunton Sands in December
December: Peak Winter Power
December closes the year with maximum ocean energy. The average swell reaches 6.9ft (2.1m), with periods averaging 10.6 seconds, and W plus WSW swells make up just over 41% of the directional spread. Even longer leads of WNW/NW energy can arrive when low pressure systems stall to the north of Scotland. Water temperature sits at 10.5°C, air at 7.4°C, and rainfall is near its annual maximum at 4.3mm/day, all classic winter ingredients. Ideal wind is 20%, meaning the vast majority of days are blown onshore by SW/W wind, but when a high pressure cell settles over Scandinavia and pushes cold E/NE winds down the Bristol Channel, Saunton transforms into a powerful, hollow, genuinely world-class beachbreak. December is not for the faint of heart - it is for those who live for cold, heavy and pushy North Atlantic surf.
Average Spot conditions at Saunton Sands in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Saunton Sands 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 Saunton Sands for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Saunton Sands 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 Saunton Sands.