Ditch Plains Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s happening at Ditch Plains over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows worth paddling out for.

First up, the water temp is sitting at about 73°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We’ve got a real slow start. From now through the end of the week, it’s mostly tiny, weak swell with poor winds. Monday morning kicks off with a 4 ft S swell but a 22 mph cross-on wind making it lumpy and messy. That afternoon brings a bigger 6 ft S swell, but with onshore wind and questionable conditions, it’s not one to get excited about. Tuesday morning cleans up a bit with a light N cross-off breeze, but the swell drops to just 3 ft from the SSE, and the energy is weak (98). Wednesday morning is glassy with a tiny 2 ft SE swell (49 energy) – you might get a few knee-high runners, but it’s very ordinary.

Thursday through to the following Monday is pretty much a write-off. Swell stays below 2 ft through most of that stretch, with onshore and cross-shore winds. Not worth talking about.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Tuesday the 25th (that's a week from now) , we finally see a pulse. The morning brings a 4 ft S swell with a clean, moderate offshore NW wind at 12 mph. The energy is moderate (101), and it’ll be rideable. But the standout is Tuesday afternoon: a 5 ft S swell, with a clean cross-off breeze from the WSW, and the combined energy jumps to 202 – that’s a solid, moderate push. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that swell well, but keep in mind the period is short (6 seconds), so the waves will be a bit weaker and more crumby than a long-period groundswell. Still, with clean winds, that’s the best we’ve got in this whole forecast.

Wednesday the 26th holds a decent 5 ft S swell but with a gentle cross-shore wind that puts a slight chop on it. Energy is strong (329), but the conditions aren’t as clean as Tuesday. It’s a consolation prize.

After that, the wind really turns on us. From Thursday the 27th through to the end of the month, it’s mostly fresh cross-onshore winds with moderate to strong energy swells (200 to 652 energy), but the chop and lumpy conditions will make it a battle. There’s a 4 ft SE swell on Friday the 28th morning with a 13-second period, which is long-period groundswell – that would be a gem at a point or reef, but at Ditch Plains with a fresh cross-shore wind? It’ll be bumpy and a bit of a mess. Not our day.

The very end of the run, on Tuesday the 1st of September, shows a return to clean offshore NW wind, but the swell is tiny at 1 ft. Not much to work with.

So, the honest call: if you’re looking for the one session to mark on the calendar, make it Tuesday the 25th afternoon. That 5 ft S swell with clean cross-off wind is your best bet. The Tuesday morning session is also solid but smaller. Everything else either has poor wind, tiny surf, or both.

We’ve got a long gap of poor to flat surf at the start, and another stretch of messy, windy conditions in the second week, but that one Tuesday window is a true standout. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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