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Conditions at Daytona Beach in December
December: Winter Starts Biting
December locks in the winter rhythm at Daytona. The average swell height holds at 2.3ft (0.7m), period is 8.4s, and ideal-wind time is a healthy 20%. Swell direction remains favorable: E (20.9%), ENE (19.2%), NE (16.0%), and NNE (9.4%) combine for about 65% of the total wave energy, and the 1.6-3.3ft (0.5-1m) class is well represented from every one of those directions. There are also decent odds of 3.3-4.9ft (1-1.5m) surf from NE and ENE - the exact window this beach loves.
The big change from fall is wind direction. The winter wind rose is dominated by NNW at 13.9% and NW at 7.9%, the telltale sign of cold fronts and Nor'easters. West winds are also common, and the SSW through W combination totals around 19%, giving the beach frequent offshore or cross-offshore cleanups. This is prime season for small-to-modest but well-shaped beachbreak waves, especially when a frontal system tracks close enough to the Carolinas to spin up a true Nor'easter. Water temps drop to 20.9°C and air averages 16.3°C, so winter wetsuits are back in the rotation.
Average Spot conditions at Daytona Beach in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Daytona 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 Daytona Beach for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Daytona 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 Daytona Beach.