Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. For the next couple of weeks, there’s some promise if you’re willing to wait, but the first few days are a wash. Water temp is about 27°, which is dead normal for this time of year.

From Thursday the 13th through Sunday the 16th, it’s rough. Swell around 5ft to 6ft from the east, but short-period (9-10 seconds) and cross-onshore winds have it choppy and messy. Combined energy is moderate but doesn’t mean much when it’s blown out. Big Ben, being a beginner-friendly beach/jetty setup, isn’t seeing any quality.

Monday the 17th offers a decent morning window. A light offshore wind (NE at 10 km/h) cleans up a 7ft east swell at 10 seconds. Combined energy is 869 – solid moderate – and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s your best early call, but the afternoon falls off.

Then things go quiet. From Tuesday the 18th through to Saturday the 22nd, the swell drops below 3ft, periods get short (8-9 seconds), and it’s mostly poor or marginal. There’s a few glassy moments around the 20th and 21st, but wave heights are just 2ft to 2ft, so not worth the effort. That’s a real dry spell.

Now, Sunday the 23rd of August is the one to circle. Morning brings a clean cross-off wind from the north at 10 km/h, a 7ft swell from the SSE with a 15-second period – that’s proper groundswell, long period, lots of energy. Combined energy is a strong 2718, and the report says “excellent for experienced surfers.” At a beach/jetty, a long-period SSE swell might wall up, but for power and shape, this is the standout session of the outlook.

Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th sees the swell explode. 10ft to 16ft from the SSE, periods of 15-16 seconds, and combined energy over 17,000 and up to 35,000. That’s massive, but every report says it’s too big for Big Ben. Only experts should even look at it, and even then, you’d be pushing it. Thursday the 27th hits a monstrous 38ft – that’s a serious event, but way beyond this break.

The last day, Friday the 28th, drops back to 7ft from the south, but the period shortens to 8 seconds and winds are messy. Not worth it.

So, the real winner is Sunday the 23rd morning for that clean, powerful groundswell. The huge mid-week stuff is for the brave and the skilled only. The early days and the gap in between – just wait it out.

Rusty.

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