Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, checking in on the waves at Big Ben for the next couple of weeks. Alright, it’s a bit of a slow cooker, but there are a few windows worth paddling out for. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 83°, so it’s pretty pleasant out there.

We’ve got a real gap of several days with no decent surf to start. The good stuff doesn't really kick off until the very end of the period. Right now, on Sunday the 30th of August, it’s glassy with a tiny 2ft easterly swell, but the overall energy is weak, reading just 94. It’s surfable, but you’ll be scratching for something to do.

Monday the 31st stays small and messy, with a cross-off wind in the morning but the swell is only 1ft. By Tuesday the 1st of September, we see some improvement. Tuesday morning is looking okay with clean conditions, a 3ft ESE swell, and solid wave energy (327). It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. Wednesday the 2nd has a glassy morning with similar 3ft surf from the east, giving us clean little rolls.

The second week is a mixed bag. A lot of choppy, wind-affected days from Thursday the 3rd through to the 8th of September, with waves bumping up to 8ft but cross-onshore winds chopping it up. Energy builds into the moderate range, peaking at 1920 on the 7th, but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle. The wind is making it look more interesting for kites than surfboards.

Now, here’s the real standout. On Wednesday the 9th of September, a serious swell arrives. We’re looking at a 13ft south-southeast groundswell with a very long period of 12 seconds. Combined energy is an immense 5058. It’s big, too big for most. The wind is cross-shore, but the conditions are favorable for the experts. This is a big-wave mission only. Thursday the 10th holds similar heavy energy, with a 16ft southeast swell and a fresh cross-off wind, but again, this is strictly for the experienced crew.

After that, it drops back down. Friday the 11th sees clean 6ft surf from the southeast, with moderate energy. By Sunday the 13th of September, things settle into a cleaner, smaller window with a 3ft south-southwest swell and light offshore winds, giving us some nice, clean, manageable waves. That’s your best bet for a relaxed session before the run fades into small, wind-affected dribble on the 14th.

So to sum it up: the first week is a write-off for anything decent. The second week has a massive spike that’s only for the brave, and the very end of the forecast offers a clean, smaller window. That Sunday the 13th morning is the pick of the crop for the average surfer.

Rusty.

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