Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you from the start – the next two weeks at Big Ben (beach/jetty) are a mixed bag, and we're looking at a long wait for anything decent. This spot is exposed to the swell but it's inconsistent, so we need everything to line up perfectly. Let's break it down.

Right now, we're in a dry spell. The first week is pretty grim. From Saturday, 18 July to Monday, 27 July, it's mostly small, weak, and messy. The combined energy is low, mostly between 110 and 369 (weak to moderate), with swell heights barely scraping 3 feet. Winds are all over the place – cross, cross-on, and onshore – making for choppy, poor surf conditions. The water temp is a pretty standard 78°F for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first real glimmer of hope is on Tuesday, 21 July morning. We get a clean window with a cross-offshore breeze from the SW, and a 4 feet easterly swell at 11 seconds. That's a decent groundswell for a beach break, combined energy hits 369 (moderate). It's a beginner-friendly size, but with the inconsistent nature of the spot, don't expect a non-stop party. The afternoon deteriorates though, so be on it early.

Then we hit another dry spell from Wednesday, 22 July right through to Sunday, 27 July. The swell drops to 1 feet – 2 feet, and the winds are rubbish. There's a tricky period on 25 July with a 1 feet, 16-second SE swell, but the combined energy is only 176 and the wind is onshore. It's a tease.

Now, the standout. The real action is in the second week, but it's a double-edged sword. On Monday, 27 July, the swell jumps to 7 feet from the SSE at 15 seconds. The combined energy skyrockets to 2435 (strong). This is a proper groundswell. The wind is cross-shore, so it's going to be a bit lumpy and the size is pushing into expert territory. But then… Tuesday, 28 July, things get nuts. The swell hits 13 feet from the SSE, period 14 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 5280 (very strong). The winds are light cross-onshore, but the forecast flags it: the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is the kind of day where the rip bowls are going to be moving, and it's only for the most experienced. The same goes for Wednesday, 29 July (15 feet, SSE, 15 sec, 9627 energy) and Thursday, 30 July (16 feet, S, 13 sec, 15644 energy).

Bottom line: The best surf is on Tuesday, 21 July morning for a clean, fun-sized wave. The massive swell from 28 July onwards is a spectacle for experts only, with serious power and size. For everyone else, it's a waiting game. The crowds are a possibility here, so keep that in mind.

Rusty.

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