77°
Patchy Smoke
90%
34
Suffolk County, NY · Atlantic Ocean
Ditch Plains Beach
Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954
The East Coast's most storied surf break — a long, consistent right point that made Montauk a surf town and still draws a dawn lineup from April through November. Lifeguarded swim area to one side, surfers to the other, food truck in the lot, and a cliffside trail into Rheinstein Park.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
90% rain · High rip current risk · NWS alert active
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Patchy smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 77, with temperatures falling to around 70 in the afternoon. South wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 69, with temperatures rising to around 71 overnight. Southwest wind 13 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Weather
- 77°F air — ideal beach weather
- 90% rain — wet day — beach day is off
Water
- 71°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- High rip current risk — nws: life-threatening rip currents likely
- NWS alert active — rip current statement issued july 18 at 2:52am edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws upton ny
16 /100
skip
0 Swim
16 Sunbathe
27 Walk
6 Fish
58 Photo
Best for photography today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Rip Currents Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:52AM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE...Kings (Brooklyn), Southwest Suffolk, Southeast Suffolk, Southern Queens and Southern Nassau Counties. * WHEN...From 6 AM EDT this morning through this evening. * IMPACTS...Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The high rip current risk is expected to continue for Suffolk county on Sunday.
Weather alert in effect
Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 3:28PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Atmosphere
Air Temp
77°F
Patchy Smoke
Wind
16 mph
S
Rain
90%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
78°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
71°F
Refreshing
Rip Current Risk
High
NWS SRF · OKX · NYZ081 · Issued Jul 18, 6:50 AM
Water Quality
Clean
4 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 11mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:30 AM
Sunset
8:16 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:20 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 7:06 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 12:55 PM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 7:36 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:13 AM | High | 2.4 ft |
| 7:57 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 1:49 PM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 8:39 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:05 AM | High | 2.1 ft |
| 8:46 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 2:42 PM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 9:40 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:57 AM | High | 1.9 ft |
| 9:35 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 3:35 PM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 10:42 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:53 AM | High | 1.7 ft |
| 10:25 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 4:32 PM | High | 2.4 ft |
| 11:40 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:54 AM | High | 1.6 ft |
| 11:16 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 5:31 PM | High | 2.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:34 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 5:54 AM | High | 1.6 ft |
| 12:08 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 6:25 PM | High | 2.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8510560, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
78°
Sunny
12%
80
76°
Sunny
0%
83
78°
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
45%
28
77°
Showers And Thunderstorms
94%
2
74°
Chance Rain Showers
41%
61
74°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
21%
77
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 16 mph wind
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 90% chance of rain
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Major
3:20 AM - 5:20 AM
Minor
9:50 AM - 10:50 AM
Major
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Permit-only year-round. Town of East Hampton resident permits sold at the Montauk Playhouse annex; non-resident season $600. Non-resident monthly: May 15 – Jun 30 $250, July $300, Aug – Sept 15 $300. No drop-in daily parking — plan ahead or walk/bike in.
Dogs
No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.
Entry Fee
Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.
Address
Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Ditch Plains Beach today?
Ditch Plains Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Ditch Plains Beach dog-friendly?
No dogs on the beach 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 15 – Sept 15. Outside those hours, leashed. Dogs permitted 500+ ft from a paved road even during restricted hours.
Is there an entry fee at Ditch Plains Beach?
Access gated by parking permit in season; free on foot.
Are there lifeguards at Ditch Plains Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Ditch Plains Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Ditch Plains Beach?
Amenities at Ditch Plains Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, concessions.
When is the water warmest at Ditch Plains Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Ditch Plains Beach located?
Ditch Plains Beach is in Suffolk County, NY, at Ditch Plains Road, Montauk, NY 11954.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS