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.

November at Ditch Plains delivers mixed but surfable conditions, with an average swell height of 1.2m and a decent period of 7.5s. The most consistent swells come from the south quadrant (SSE-SSW), contributing the largest share of rideable waves, particularly in the 1-2.5m range. ESE and SE directions also bring frequent mid-sized waves, though smaller and less powerful. North swells are rare and generally weak, while westerly swells are negligible. Wind conditions are challenging, with only 11% of days offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically from the NW-WNW). More often, winds blow onshore from the S-SSW or W-WSW, creating chop, especially at higher speeds (20-50kph). For surfers, the best windows are during SSW-NW winds under 20kph, coinciding with south swells for clean(ish) peaks. Expect a mix of smaller, weak days and occasional overhead pulses, but wind will frequently be the limiting factor. Patience and timing are key—wait for those rare days when wind and swell align.