Ditch Plains Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happenin’ at Ditch Plains.

First thing you gotta know, the water is runnin’ a bit chilly for July – 66°, which is a couple degrees colder than you’d expect around here. The next two weeks are a real mixed bag, but I’m gonna be honest with you, most of it is a flat-out struggle. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, short-period swell and wind that just won’t play nice.

The whole first week, from Saturday July 11th all the way through the weekend of the 18th, is basically a write-off. Swell is tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft – with periods under 10 seconds, and the combined energy is pathetic (45 or less). Winds are mostly cross-onshore or cross, making it choppy and messy. There’s one glimmer of clean surf on Tuesday morning the 14th with a 2 ft SW windswell and a light cross-offshore, but it’s still too weak to get excited about.

We hit a bit of a lull, and then things start to wake up around Monday July 20th. The morning shows a 4 ft SSE swell (period 6s) with a clean cross-offshore WNW wind. The energy is 135 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. That’s the first real chance to get wet, but the swell is short-period and the wave quality is just “ordinary.” It’s a paddle, but it’s not gonna set the world on fire.

The standout period, if you can call it that, is Wednesday July 22nd through Thursday July 23rd. The size bumps up to 4 ft to 6 ft from the south, with periods reaching 8-9 seconds. The combined energy jumps into the 200s and even 455 on Thursday afternoon – that’s solid moderate energy. But here’s the kicker: the wind is pure cross-onshore from the east or southeast, so that bigger swell is going to be lumpy, messy, and blown out. It’s a real shame because there’s power in the water, but the surface is gonna be a chop-fest. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.

The last real chance is Sunday July 26th. The morning brings a 4 ft south swell (8s, 178 energy) with a clean cross-offshore WSW wind. Conditions are glassy, but the swell is still a bit raw. It’s the closest we get to a decent all-rounder, but it’s not a vintage day.

So, if I’m picking a single best bet: Monday July 20th morning is the only time the stars align for clean conditions and a bit of size. The 4 ft SSE swell under WNW cross-offshore wind will give you the cleanest, most ridable waves of the period. It’s not big, it’s not perfect, but it’s the only window where you’re not fighting the wind. Crowds are often a thing at Ditch Plains, so expect company.

Rusty.

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