Conditions at Canoes in December
December: Holiday Swell Window
December wraps the year with the most energetic wave climate of the calendar. Average swell height climbs to 6ft (1.8m) with an average period of 12.1s, and the swell rose is a beautiful winter mess: NNE (7.1%), NE (9.4%), ENE (18.1%), WNW (6.0%), NW (12.7%) and NNW (14.0%). It is the true beginning of the north shore beast, and while Canoes does not see the same mountain-sized faces as Pipeline, the long-period winter energy refracts and wraps into the southwest-facing shoreline, delivering some of the bigger, more powerful waves of the year. The optimal S/SSW/SW/WSW window sits at 4.8%, and while those south pulses remain rare in winter, they are worth their weight in gold when they arrive. On the wind front, ENE still leads at 41.3%, but the onshore S/SW/WSW directions combine for 13.2% - the highest Kona ingredient of the year - which can turn the lineup lumpy for days. Still, ideal conditions finish at 23%, and with water a warm 25.0°C, air temps around 23.6°C, and 2.29 mm/day of rain, December is a legitimate, underrated window for quality surf at Canoes.
Average Spot conditions at Canoes in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Canoes 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 Canoes for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Canoes 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 Canoes.