
Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, E swell with 3,420 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Ben this week:
The surf forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Ben in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Well, if you’ve been waiting for a window at Big Ben, you’re gonna have to be patient. The first week or so is rough. The surf kicks off with a massive pulse on Wednesday the 5th of August – we’re talking a solid 13ft of SE swell, period around 14 seconds, and the energy meter is absolutely pegged at 5816. That’s a huge, powerful groundswell. But here’s the thing – it’s just too big for this spot. That combined energy is intense, and for a beginner-friendly break, that’s a no-go. The wind is a cross-shore from the ENE at 16 mph, which won’t help clean it up either. Don’t even think about paddling out there unless you’re a pro, and even then, it’s sketchy.
Thursday the 6th sees the swell drop to 8ft from the SSE, still packing a punch with 2515 energy, but the wind goes cross-shore and then cross-on, and the conditions are marginal at best. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is spot on for the time of year, so no surprises there. The whole first week is a mess of middling to poor conditions, with most days scoring low. The swell stays around 6ft to 7ft through the weekend and into early next week, but the wind is never your friend – it’s either onshore, cross, or just too strong. By Monday the 10th, the wind cranks up to 19 mph from the NNE, but it’s offshore, giving you clean waves. The swell is 6ft to 7ft from the east, period around 11-12 seconds, and energy is moderate to strong (1600-1830). It’s better, but still not a standout.
The real standout, and I mean the *only* one worth circling on your calendar, is Wednesday the 12th of August. The morning shows a 10ft NE swell, period of 10 seconds, and the energy is 3349 – that’s strong. The wind is offshore from the NNE at 19 mph, promising clean faces. The wave comment even says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for the break. At 10ft, this is expert territory. If you’re a beginner, stay on the beach. If you’re experienced, this could be a rare session if you can handle the power. The afternoon stays similar, with a cross-shore wind and lumpy chop, but still big.
After that, the bottom falls out. From the 13th onward, the swell drops into the 3ft to 5ft range, energy craters to below 1000, and the wind is consistently cross or onshore with a chop. By the 14th and 15th, we’re looking at poor surf conditions with scores of zero. There’s a tiny bump on the 18th with a 5ft to 7ft short-period swell (7-8 seconds), but the wind is moderate cross-shore, and it’s just not worth the drive. The last few days of the forecast into the 20th show a slight uptick to 6ft to 7ft from the SSE with some clean offshore wind, but nothing special.
Overall, it’s a lean 16 days. The only true heat-check is Wednesday the 12th, but it’s a beast. For the rest, you’re either dealing with too much swell, too little swell, or wind that ruins it. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with all that cross-shore wind and chop.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SW 16 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2875 | 2090 | 1933 | 1968 | 1335 | 1211 | 1075 | 949 | 838 | 1053 | 1465 | 1376 | 964 | 1039 | 1229 | 1858 | 1118 | 2432 | 2263 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:40AM1.08m | 9:01PM1.40m | 9:44PM1.36m | 4:28PM1.26m | 11:10PM1.33m | 4:23PM1.35m | 00:59AM1.34m | 4:40PM1.42m | 2:16AM1.40m | 5:00PM1.47m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 3:50AM0.55m | 2:28PM0.99m | 5:14AM0.52m | 6:50AM0.45m | 6:32PM1.25m | 8:04AM0.35m | 8:47PM1.21m | 8:59AM0.25m | 9:34PM1.12m | 9:42AM0.17m | 10:08PM1.02m | ||||||||
— | 4:50 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | |
6:38 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 24 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 12 | ENE 10 |
2875 | 2090 | 1933 | 1968 | 1335 | 1211 | 1075 | 949 | 838 | 995 | 1465 | 1376 | 964 | 1039 | 1229 | 1415 | 1118 | 1541 | 1193 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
443 | 458 | 410 | 425 | 424 | 441 | 343 | 385 | 594 | 1053 | 1031 | 1359 | 942 | 598 | 453 | 331 | 304 | 437 | 347 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 17 | ENE 16 | ENE 16 | ENE 15 | ENE 15 | ENE 15 | ENE 14 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | SE 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | — | SE 14 |
27 | 25 | 51 | 46 | 42 | 43 | 41 | 46 | 45 | — | — | 4 | 151 | 189 | 140 | 160 | 170 | — | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | ENE 11 | — | NE 11 | NE 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | 1858 | — | 2432 | 2263 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 18 | 22 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 81 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 0 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 184 | 2098 | 177 | 177 | 184 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Chiba | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Big Ben Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Big Ben provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Ben can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Ben surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Big Ben) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Big Ben may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Big Ben is 3 km (2 miles) from Kawaguchi. If you plan a holiday in Chiba, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











