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.

Ditch Plains in January offers surfable conditions, though with some variability. The average swell height is 1.2m with a moderate 7.2s period, providing rideable waves, though not particularly powerful. The most consistent swell direction comes from the south (S, SSE, SSW), where waves in the 1-2.5m range are frequent, making these the primary directions for decent surf. However, wind conditions are less favorable—only 11% of the time is the wind ideal for surfing, with onshore or cross-shore winds (from W, WSW, WNW, NW) being more common, which can degrade wave quality. Stronger winds (20-50kph) from these directions are prevalent, often creating choppy or less clean conditions. While the spot sees surfable waves, particularly during south swells, wind interference means patience and selective timing are key for scoring the best sessions. Overall, January delivers a mix of surfable days, but ideal conditions are relatively rare.