Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Big Ben are looking pretty average, not gonna lie. There’s surf on the cards, but it’s gonna take some patience and a keen eye to find a decent window. The water temp is sitting at 79.2°, which is about normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The pattern for the next 16 days is a whole lot of “meh” with a couple of short windows that could be worth a paddle. We’ve got a solid run of swell from the east for the first week, but the wind is all over the shop, and the tides look like they’re messing with things too. Don’t expect any magic.

We start off on Saturday, August 8th. There’s a 4.6ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 11 seconds. Wind is light from the SSE, but it’s onshore, so it’s gonna be a bit bumpy. The energy is moderate (889). This is a beginner-friendly spot, but with the onshore wind and the “marginal” vibe, it’s not looking like a classic. You could get some closeouts, but you’d be working for it.

Sunday, August 9th picks up a touch. The swell jumps to 6.6ft from the east with a 13-second period, and the energy climbs to 1616, which is a solid moderate. The morning looks best with a light NE cross-shore breeze, which will keep it semi-clean. This is your first real chance, but it’s not a standout. The swell direction is from the E, which is off from the optimum SE direction for this spot, so it might be a bit walled.

Monday, August 10th is interesting. The swell holds at 6.9ft, but the wind swings around to the NNE at 12 mph in the morning, giving you a cross-offshore breeze. That’s a big positive – it’ll be clean. The energy is still strong at 1515. This is looking like one of the better windows of the first week. The period drops to 12 seconds, which is still good. If you can get out there for the morning session, this could be the pick of the early run. It’s just over 5ft, so it’s getting a little too big for the beginners, but for the rest of us, it’s worth a look.

The rest of the week goes downhill. Tuesday and Wednesday are poor, with onshore winds and low energy. The swell drops right off on Wednesday to around 3.3ft with weak energy (354). Not worth it.

Thursday, August 13th shows a bit of a pulse again with 5.6ft from the east, but the wind is cross-shore and it’s marked as marginal. The energy is moderate (1275). It’s another “maybe” day.

Friday, August 14th has the swell size up to 7.2ft, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s messy. The period is down to 10 seconds, so it won’t have the punch you’d want. This one is for the die-hards only.

Now, looking ahead to the second week, things get a bit more promising but less certain. Saturday, August 15th has a 6.2ft swell from the east with a 12-second period, but the cross-shore wind will chop it up. Not great.

Sunday, August 16th morning is another one to circle. Swell is 5.2ft from the E with a 12-second period, but the wind is a cross-offshore from the NNE at 16 mph. The comment says “clean.” The energy is moderate (804). This could be a fun morning, but it’s not huge.

The following week, from Monday, August 17th through Wednesday, August 19th, is looking rough. The swell drops, the wind is onshore or cross-shore, and the periods are short (9 seconds). It’s a dead zone. Wednesday afternoon shows a bump in size to 6.9ft, but with a short 9-second period and onshore wind, it’s gonna be a mess. Not worth the effort.

Thursday, August 20th has a shift. Swell swings around to the south, 5.9ft at 10 seconds, but the wind is onshore. It’s marginal.

Friday, August 21st is small and weak, and the weekend of August 22nd and 23rd is tiny, with swell dropping to 1.6ft. The energy is weak (124). The surf is basically done.

So, what’s the call? The standout of the whole 16-day window is Monday, August 10th in the morning. You’ve got a solid 6.9ft east swell, a 12-second period, and clean cross-offshore wind. That’s your best chance for a proper session. The other one to keep an eye on is Sunday, August 16th in the morning, with a clean 5.2ft swell and that cross-offshore breeze. But remember, that’s a week out, so treat it as promising, not a guarantee.

Everything else is a marginal, choppy, or weak mess. The setup here is a beach and jetty, and with the wind and

Read more