Ditch Plains - surf spot statistics

Ditch Plains, located on the east coast of the United States, is a surf spot primarily influenced by wind swells, with ground swells playing a much smaller role in wave formation. Throughout the year, wind swells dominate, accounting for 71% to 92% of the swell activity, while ground swells range from just 3% to 23%, peaking in September. The mean swell size remains relatively consistent, averaging around 1.0 to 1.2 meters, with slightly smaller waves in late summer (August-September) and slightly larger waves in winter and early spring. Wind conditions are generally poor, with bad onshore winds prevailing 79% to 89% of the time, though they improve slightly in summer, particularly in July and August, when good wind conditions reach around 20-21%. The best time to surf Ditch Plains is from late summer to early fall, specifically August and September, when ground swell contributions increase, wind conditions are slightly more favorable, and wave size remains decent. While summer (June-August) offers more frequent lighter winds, the swells tend to be smaller and less powerful. Winter months bring slightly larger waves but suffer from consistently poor wind conditions, making sessions less ideal. Overall, surfers should target late summer and early fall for the best balance of swell quality and wind conditions at this spot.

August at Ditch Plains offers generally small but rideable conditions, with an average swell height of 0.9m and a decent period of 7.7s, suggesting clean, though often weak, waves. The most consistent swells come from the SE to S directions, with SE swells (24.83% occurrence in the 0.5-1m range) being the dominant and most productive. Larger waves (1-1.5m) are less frequent but still present, mostly from the S and SSE. However, winds are a limiting factor—only 21% of the time are they ideal (typically light offshore or sideshore), while SW and WSW winds (often 10-30kph) can create choppy conditions. Expect mostly knee-to-chest-high waves, with rare overhead sets when S/SSE swells align with favorable winds. Advanced surfers may find the best sessions early mornings before onshore winds pick up. Overall, August is a hit-or-miss month with occasional clean days mixed in.