Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's on the cards. I'm not gonna lie, the next week or so is lookin' pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of not much to get excited about, with the first proper chance of a wave not really showin' up until well into the second week.

The whole start of the period is a write-off. Wednesday the 2nd through to Saturday the 6th is a total bust – poor conditions with messy wind and weak swell. You’d be better off waxing your board for the sake of it.

Sunday the 7th of September has a bit of size, with swell building to around 7 ft from the east-northeast, but it’s still a bit raw. The wind is clean though, a cross-offshore from the north, so the surface will be smooth. The combined wave energy is strong (883), but the quality is just marginal. Not a standout, but a glimmer of hope.

Now, Wednesday the 9th of September is where things get serious, but it’s for the big dogs only. We’re lookin' at a massive 20 ft swell from the south, with a period of 12 seconds – that’s a real groundswell. The combined energy is enormous (9250). The wind is cross-shore, but the truth is, this is way, way too big for Big Ben. This is a beginner spot and at that size, it's just dangerous. It'll be a foaming, rolling mess. A real shame, because the conditions are otherwise favorable.

The next few days after that are still messy with big, unruly swell. The next real chance for a paddle comes on Tuesday the 15th of September. There’s a long-period swell rollin' in from the east, 16 seconds, at 4 ft. The combined energy is strong (1055), and with a light cross-onshore wind, it’s just about surfable. At Big Ben, a long period swell like this might not be the best shape for a beach/jetty break, but it’s the first real window we’ve had.

Then the big stuff comes back. Wednesday the 16th of September sees another huge 12 ft south-southeast swell, again too big for this break. Combined energy is massive (6566), but it's a write-off for anyone without a death wish.

So, the best of a bad bunch? Honestly, the early morning of Tuesday the 15th of September is your standout. The 4 ft, 16-second easterly swell is the most manageable size we get, and while the wind isn't perfect, it's the closest we come to a decent session. Don't expect much else. This is a long blank run for the area, and it's just how it goes sometimes.

Stay patient,
Rusty.

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