Top 12 of 32 surfing destinations scored for December · ERA5 reanalysis 2015-2024 · updated monthly
December opens the season at Cabarete and closes it at Bells Beach and Chicama. Of the 32 surfing destinations in the dataset, 23 score 68 or better in December and 21 reach the prime band above 80, which puts it mid-table for the year.
Pipeline leads on 98 at 2.4 m @ 11 s. Across the top ten the spread is Europe (5), North America (2), Oceania (2), Africa (1). The month belongs to the northern hemisphere: 8 of the ten best sit above the equator.
Ranked by score out of 100. Each strip shows all twelve months, so you can see whether December is the spot's peak or its shoulder.
1. Pipeline Oahu, USA
98
Prime
Monthly score for Pipeline, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
97
96
93
86
73
64
64
64
68
90
95
98
56%days with working wind
12 knmean daily max wind
2.4 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
25.7 °Csea temperature
23.3 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
December is Pipeline's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 98. Swell runs 2.4 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 25.7 °C with air at 23.3 °C — boardshorts.
Monthly score for Essaouira, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
93
94
90
89
78
75
70
73
83
91
94
95
38%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.3 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
17.8 °Csea temperature
15.8 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
December is Essaouira's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 95. Swell runs 2.3 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 17.8 °C with air at 15.8 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Margaret River, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
95
95
96
97
90
82
71
73
81
88
93
95
73%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
2.2 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
20.4 °Csea temperature
18.8 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Margaret River: 95, within 2 points of its best month (April, 97). Swell averages 2.2 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 20.4 °C with air at 18.8 °C — a 3/2 shorty. It is one of the drier months, at 17 mm.
Monthly score for Ho'okipa, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
94
92
85
79
70
65
64
59
68
84
92
94
75%days with working wind
15 knmean daily max wind
1.9 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
25.7 °Csea temperature
23.5 °Cair temperature
Sep-Maybest run of months
December is Ho'okipa's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 94. Swell runs 1.9 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 25.7 °C with air at 23.5 °C — boardshorts.
Monthly score for Hossegor, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
89
88
90
85
75
69
70
78
86
91
90
92
36%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.4 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
14.3 °Csea temperature
10.1 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
December is Hossegor's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 92. Swell runs 2.4 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 14.3 °C with air at 10.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Mundaka, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
90
91
89
77
68
68
66
76
83
89
93
91
42%days with working wind
12 knmean daily max wind
2.2 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
14.7 °Csea temperature
11.3 °Cair temperature
Aug-Junbest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Mundaka: 91, within 2 points of its best month (November, 93). Swell runs 2.2 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 14.7 °C with air at 11.3 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Peniche, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
88
88
86
86
78
76
70
76
84
91
91
90
58%days with working wind
13 knmean daily max wind
2.6 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
16.1 °Csea temperature
13.3 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Peniche: 90, within 1 point of its best month (October, 91). Swell averages 2.6 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 16.1 °C with air at 13.3 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Raglan, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
84
91
92
92
93
90
90
89
92
91
90
90
64%days with working wind
14 knmean daily max wind
1.7 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
19.5 °Csea temperature
18.2 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Raglan: 90, within 3 points of its best month (May, 93). Swell averages 1.7 m at 10 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 19.5 °C with air at 18.2 °C — a 3/2 shorty. The season is turning over here — the months before this one score better.
Monthly score for Carcavelos, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
90
89
91
81
64
63
47
57
72
85
90
89
39%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
1.9 mmean swell height
10 sswell period
15.8 °Csea temperature
13.3 °Cair temperature
Sep-Aprbest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Carcavelos: 89, within 2 points of its best month (March, 91). Swell averages 1.9 m at 10 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 15.8 °C with air at 13.3 °C — a 4/3 and boots. It is also the wet end of the year: 84 mm against a monthly average of 50 mm.
Monthly score for Biarritz, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
87
89
87
74
68
65
63
72
77
85
91
89
36%days with working wind
11 knmean daily max wind
2.0 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
14.0 °Csea temperature
10.1 °Cair temperature
Aug-Maybest run of months
December is effectively as good as it gets at Biarritz: 89, within 2 points of its best month (November, 91). Swell runs 2.0 m at 11 s — long enough a period to be groundswell that breaks properly rather than local wind chop. The sea sits at 14.0 °C with air at 10.1 °C — a 4/3 and boots.
Monthly score for Uluwatu, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
86
85
86
90
88
93
94
94
93
91
85
89
23%days with working wind
10 knmean daily max wind
1.6 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
30.0 °Csea temperature
27.5 °Cair temperature
Year-roundbest run of months
Uluwatu works in December — 89 against a peak of 94 in July — so you are inside the season without being at the top of it. Swell averages 1.6 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 30.0 °C with air at 27.5 °C — boardshorts, and shade between sessions. It is also the wet end of the year: 234 mm against a monthly average of 131 mm. Conditions are still building, so later in the season scores higher.
Monthly score for Santa Cruz, January to December. December is highlighted.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
89
89
88
83
79
72
64
59
75
85
87
89
14%days with working wind
8 knmean daily max wind
2.0 mmean swell height
11 sswell period
13.7 °Csea temperature
11.4 °Cair temperature
Sep-Junbest run of months
December is Santa Cruz's strongest month of the year for surfing, scoring 89. Swell averages 2.0 m at 11 s, a mid-period sea: rideable, and softer than the same height would be on a longer interval. The sea sits at 13.7 °C with air at 11.4 °C — a hooded winter suit. It is also the wet end of the year: 169 mm against a monthly average of 72 mm.
Pipeline, USA scores highest in December at 98/100, based on ten years of ERA5 climatology scored for surfing. Its best run of months is Sep-May.
Where can I surf in warm water in December?
Uluwatu has the warmest sea among the spots that also score well in December — 30.0 °C, which is boardshorts, and shade between sessions, on a score of 89.
Is December a good month to surf?
Yes — 21 destinations in the dataset reach the prime band (80+) in December, so you have real choice rather than one option.
These scores are climatology, not a forecast. They are computed from ten years of
ERA5 reanalysis (2015-2024) and answer which month and which spot to book — not
whether this Saturday is on. For live conditions, open the
interactive map.