Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for Big Ben.

Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at a mild 80°—right about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, though. We’ve got a messy cross-shore wind and weak, short-period swell, so you’ll be fighting a cross-chop more than riding anything decent. It’s pretty poor until we see a shift.

Now, things get a bit more interesting mid-period, but it’s not straightforward. By Thursday the 17th, the swell picks up a little, but the period is real short—only 7 to 8 seconds—so it’s going to be lumpy and jumbled. Winds are cross-offshore and clean, but the wave quality is still marginal. That holds through Friday the 18th, with bigger numbers on the charts—8 ft on the Friday morning—but the energy is still pretty weak for the size (combined energy 947). The afternoon sees a proper jump though, with a 15-second period SE groundswell kicking in and the energy spiking to 2243. That’s more like it, but the wind is still a fresh cross-off, and it’s only a 2/10 score for surfability.

The real standout, and I mean the one you’ve got to circle on your calendar, is Saturday the 19th. We’re looking at a big, long-period SE swell rolling in at 12 ft and 14 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 5989—this is serious power. Winds are clean and cross-offshore. The catch? This is way too much swell for Big Ben. It’s a beach/jetty setup, and 12 ft of long-period groundswell is going to close out, shift around, and be straight-up dangerous for anyone but absolute experts. The forecast is honest: it’s too big for this break. If you’re a seasoned charger, maybe, but even then, be smart.

Sunday the 20th drops back to 8 ft from the SSE, still with good period and cross-off winds, but it’s still on the big side and the energy is still high (4103). For a more manageable session, look at Tuesday the 22nd afternoon. The swell drops to 7 ft from the ENE, period is a solid 11 seconds, and the winds are clean cross-off. It’s still a bit punchy, but for experienced surfers, that’s a solid window. The energy is 1075—moderate, but well-shaped.

After that, it’s a slow fade. The end of September and into the last week is pretty grim. Thursday the 24th morning gives us a tiny 3 ft glassy window with perfect conditions—it’s only a 2/10 for quality, but if you just want to get wet and catch a few ankle-biters, that glassy morning will be a treat. After that, we’re back to light, weak windswell and crummy winds.

So, the clear champion here is Saturday the 19th, but it’s only if you’ve got the skill and the nerve. For everyone else, aim for the 22nd afternoon for the best mix of size and shape. The last week is quiet, so make the most of the middle part of the forecast. The setup for the big days might actually be better for kiteboarding than paddle surfing, given the conditions.

Rusty.

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