Ditch Plains Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, this time in feet and miles per hour.

Looking at Ditch Plains, it’s a tough run for the next couple of weeks. There are a few windows, but you’ll need to be on it.

The overall pattern is messy. For most of the two-week run, the wind is just not cooperating. Strong onshore and cross-shore winds, and a couple of days with near-gale force, are going to mess up the surface. The combined swell energy is low for most of the period, often under 100 (weak energy), and when it does pick up, the wind is blowing the wrong way. There’s a big gap from the start until the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September, where it’s basically not worth paddling out. Then, another long stretch of poor conditions from Tuesday, 15th September, through to the end of the third week of September. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.

Let’s start with the first real opportunity. Sunday afternoon, 13th September. The morning is a washout with heavy rain and a cross-onshore breeze, but by the afternoon, a gentle offshore from the NNW kicks in. The waves are small, around 3 feet from the SSE, with a short period of 6 seconds, but that offshore wind will make it glassy and clean. The combined energy is moderate (109). It’s not going to be big, but for a quick longboard session, it’s the best we’ve got in the early period. Keep in mind, crowds are often an issue here.

Then we hit a long, dry spell. Tuesday the 15th through to the end of the month is a mix of onshore slop, strong cross-shore winds, and tiny waves. Wednesday morning, 16th September, has glassy conditions with only around 2 feet from the ESE, but it’s barely surfable. The combined energy is still weak (75). It’s a tease more than anything.

The next potential window is Monday, 28th September. The morning looks clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the W. The swell is around 4 feet from the ENE, but the period is short (5 seconds), so it will be a bit weak and crumbly. The combined energy is moderate (120). Again, not a standout, but if you’re desperate, it’s the cleanest we’ve seen in a while. Crowds are possible.

For the rest of the forecast, it’s a lot of near-gale winds and messy conditions. There are a few days with a 15-second period swell from the ESE around 23rd and 24th September, but the wind is strong and cross-shore. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle-surfing. The combined energy gets up to 440 on the afternoon of the 22nd, but with fresh cross-onshore winds, it’s going to be a lumpy, blown-out mess.

So, the bottom line: your best bet is the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September, for a clean, small session. The other potential is Monday, 28th September. Everything else is a wait-and-see. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s looking lean.

Rusty.

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