Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

Alright, lookin' at the charts for the break, and I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a bit of a tough one. There's swell on the way, but the timing and conditions are gonna be a real puzzle. The best window is a long way off, so you gotta be patient.

Let's start with what's closest. This whole first week, from Sunday the 23rd right through to the end of August, is a write-off. The swell is tiny, the wind is all over the shop, and everything is tagged as poor or marginal. You're lookin' at a solid 7 to 8 days of just not worth paddling out for. The wind is either cross or onshore, and the energy is weak. Save your energy.

We start to see a pulse of bigger swell roll in on Monday the 24th, with a very long period groundswell from the SSE. The combined energy jumps to 1463, which is a solid kick. But the wind is cross-on, and the forecast says the conditions are still marginal. The waves get bigger into Tuesday the 25th, with swell hitting 8 ft from the S and energy peaking at 2741, but again, that moderate cross-shore wind is gonna put a chop on it. These aren't the days to get excited about.

Things get a bit cleaner on Friday morning the 28th, with a cross-offshore wind and a 3 ft wave from the E, but the energy is low at 319. Still, it's a glimmer of hope.

The real standout, the one that has my heart racing a little, is way out there. We're looking at Monday the 7th of September. The forecast shows a proper 7 ft swell from the SE, and the wind is set to be a light, cross-offshore breeze from the WSW. That's the magic combo right there. The conditions are expected to be very good, and the energy is strong at 595. For a beach/jetty setup like Big Ben, a clean 7 ft wave with light offshore winds is about as good as it gets. The water temp is sitting at a nice 81°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, a couple of things to keep in mind. This swell has a short period of 8 seconds, so it's windswell, not a clean groundswell. It'll be a bit more crumbly and less powerful than a long-period swell, but with that offshore wind, it should still be fun. Also, Big Ben is an "inconsistent" break, so don't expect non-stop waves. You'll have to sit and wait for the sets. And because it's the best thing on offer, expect the crowds to be there, as it's a spot that "sometimes" gets busy.

The week before that, on Tuesday the 1st of September, we have a couple of promising sessions. The morning shows a 5 ft swell from the ESE with a cross breeze, and the afternoon has a clean cross-offshore wind with the same 5 ft swell. The energy is building into the 1000s, so it's a decent option. It's not the standout, but it's a solid backup.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud. The second week has some promise, but the one to circle on your calendar is Monday the 7th of September. That's your best bet for a clean, fun session at Big Ben.

Stay patient, and I'll see you in the water.

Rusty

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