Ditch Plains Surf Season
New York, USA · part of the Ditch Plains spot guide
Ditch is a fall-and-winter wave, prime September through December, on two Atlantic engines: late-summer and fall tropical systems throwing south-to-southeast swell, and autumn and winter Nor’easters and extratropical lows with northwest offshore behind the front. December is often the most consistent month, but frigid.
Where the swell comes from
Atlantic hurricanes and tropical systems provide the south-to-southeast groundswell from August to October; Nor’easters and extratropical lows provide the season-long east-to-southeast swell with clean offshore behind the front.
Historic swells at Ditch Plains
Hurricane Larry
A distant major sent a long, clean pulse up the East Coast — one of the best East Coast days in years, with Montauk holding size.
Hurricane Jose
A multi-day south-to-southeast swell brought waves to the dunes and swimming bans across Long Island.