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Conditions at Point Dume in December
December: Winter Swell and Maximum Offshore Wind
December is arguably the best month at Point Dume. The average swell height climbs back to 1.0m (3.3ft), period sits at 12.3s, and the swell direction tilts back toward the powerful W (49 percent) and WNW (11 percent) groundswell source, with WSW (22 percent) providing the crucial southern wrap-around component. This is when the Aleutian Low is fully engaged, sending long-period energy down the California coast. Most days offer rideable 2-4ft (0.6-1.2m) waves with more frequent 3-5ft (1-1.5m) sets, and the bigger WNW pulses can hit the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range. The big story is wind: ideal conditions occur 70 percent of the time, the highest of the year, as N/NW/NNW offshore flows dominate. Air temps are cool at 13.3°C (56°F), precipitation picks up to 2.30 mm/day, and water temps are a brisk 14.6°C (58°F). Winter has officially arrived, so suit up and go.
Average Spot conditions at Point Dume in December
Swell history for December
Wind history for December
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Point Dume 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 Point Dume for your next trip in December.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Point Dume 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 Point Dume.