Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, S swell with 734 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s period with E 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 27) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at the next 16 days for our stretch of coast. The vibe is a bit of a mixed bag – we’ve got a long stretch of pretty average conditions, but there’s a couple of real gems hiding in the second week if you’re patient.
Overall, the first half of the outlook is a grind. After a weak pulse on the 27th, we’re looking at a real flat spell, with poor surf and messy winds for days on end. The energy is low, with combined swell energy readings barely cracking 200-300 for most of the last week of August. Then, around the 1st of September, things start to look a little more promising from a swell perspective, but the wind is still a problem. The real standout is a window around the 8th and 9th of September.
Let’s get into it. The only break on the cards is Big Ben. It’s an exposed beach and jetty setup, and it’s inconsistent. The water is currently sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
We kick off on Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell is a weak 3 ft from the SSW at 12 seconds, but with a 16 mph cross-shore and a cross-chop, it’s poor. The combined energy is only 490, so it’s weak. Thursday the 27th is a bit better. Morning has a long period 2 ft groundswell from the East at 14 seconds, but it’s weak. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is low (365). The afternoon is similar, with 2 ft East swell, cross-off wind, and clean conditions. Combined energy at 387. It’s a marginal call, but the cleanest we’ve seen.
From the 28th of August right through to the 31st, it’s pretty grim. The swell stays small and weak, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, making for chopped-up, poor surf. The combined energy dips into the 150-240 range. On the 30th, a short period 5 ft SW swell shows up, but with a period of only 6 seconds, it’s just a messy, weak windswell, and the cross-shore wind makes it ugly.
September 1st and 2nd see a bit more energy, with combined swell readings climbing to 559 and then 801. The swell is bumping up to 5 ft from the South, but the wind is cross-on to onshore, keeping conditions poor. The 3rd of September brings a bigger 7 ft to 8 ft South swell, with combined energy hitting 1207 and 1503. That’s a strong pulse of energy, but it’s cross-shore and cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, lumpy beast. This is definitely more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.
Now, hold on to your boards. The real standout is shaping up for the morning of Tuesday the 8th of September. The forecast shows a clean 5 ft South swell with a 12-second period, combined energy of 736, and most importantly, glassy conditions. Zero wind. That’s the one to circle. It’s a solid, clean swell, but it’s going to be a bit of a wait. The next morning, Wednesday the 9th of September, is also a good one. Leftover 5 ft SSW swell, combined energy of 693, and a light offshore breeze from the WSW. That’s clean, lined-up waves.
Beyond that, the 10th of September shows a bigger 4 ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind picks up to a strong 19 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy. The energy is strong at 1272, but it’s a fight.
So, the call is simple. The next week or so is a write-off. The best of the best is the Tuesday morning (8th September) with that glassy 5 ft South swell, hands down. The Wednesday morning (9th September) is a close second. Keep your eyes on the forecast for those days, as they’re still a way off, but the signs are promising.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 6 | SW 6 | NE 5 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
196 | 479 | 146 | 173 | 212 | 193 | 139 | 137 | 132 | 91 | 89 | 94 | 129 | 88 | 60 | 119 | 96 | 377 | 425 | 618 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:50PM1.50m | 3:40AM1.52m | 5:08PM1.52m | 4:23AM1.58m | 5:27PM1.54m | 5:03AM1.61m | 5:47PM1.54m | 5:42AM1.60m | 6:06PM1.55m | 6:21AM1.55m | 6:26PM1.55m | 7:02AM1.47m | 6:45PM1.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:14PM0.89m | 10:28AM0.21m | 10:42PM0.76m | 10:59AM0.24m | 11:10PM0.64m | 11:29AM0.31m | 11:40PM0.54m | 11:57AM0.41m | 00:11AM0.46m | 12:23PM0.54m | 00:45AM0.42m | 12:48PM0.68m | 1:22AM0.41m | |||||||
— | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | |
6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 11 | E 13 | E 12 | SSW 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | SSW 6 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 |
121 | 92 | 72 | 108 | 212 | 193 | 63 | 137 | 132 | 91 | 89 | 94 | 67 | 61 | 38 | 119 | 96 | 377 | 425 | 618 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | E 12 | S 11 | E 13 | S 10 | S 9 | E 12 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SSW 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 8 |
196 | 134 | 88 | 173 | 66 | 39 | 139 | 30 | 15 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 35 | 59 | 57 | 71 | 61 | 186 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | S 12 | E 14 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SSW 13 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | S 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 |
138 | 72 | 146 | 54 | 37 | 37 | 22 | 20 | 47 | 31 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 31 | 10 | 90 | 42 | 40 | 78 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 11 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | SSW 8 | SW 6 | SW 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 7 | — | — |
35 | 479 | 59 | 52 | 30 | 56 | 128 | — | 2 | 29 | 14 | 22 | 129 | 88 | 60 | 55 | 40 | 79 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 81 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 81 | 22 | 30 | 565 | 35 | 6 | 29 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
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.











