Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s going on at Big Ben. It’s a beach-and-jetty spot that’s open to whatever comes in, and the water’s running about 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

Right off the bat, Sunday the 30th has small 2ft waves from the east with an 11-second period, and a light cross-off wind in the morning. The combined swell energy is weak (109), so it’s clean but tiny. Nothing to get fired up about unless you’re just learning.

Monday the 31st is even smaller and messier with cross-shore winds and chop. Skip it.

Tuesday the 1st of September morning shows some hope – 3ft from the ESE at 12 seconds, combined energy climbing to moderate (316), and a light cross-off breeze keeping it clean. It’s the first real surfable moment, but still on the small side.

Wednesday the 2nd is the real highlight. Morning glass-off – 3 mph from the southeast, dead calm, with 3ft of east swell at 10 seconds. Combined energy is 282, still moderate, but glassy conditions mean it’ll be like butter. For a break that can be inconsistent, this is a sweet little window. The swell direction (east) isn’t a perfect match for the optimum SE, but when it’s glassy, you don’t argue.

From Wednesday afternoon, it goes downhill. The swell bumps up, but the period drops to 6 seconds and the wind turns onshore or cross-shore. Thursday the 3rd has 5ft from the SSE but with a 6-second period and moderate cross-shore winds – just lumpy, choppy junk. Combined energy hits 475, but with that period, it’s all chop. Same story through the end of the week.

Over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September, the swell goes south and gets more power – up to 5ft on Sunday morning with a 14-second period, and combined energy spikes hard to 1682. That’s a lot of energy, but the wind is cross-shore from the northeast. The long period means better shape at a point or reef, but on a beach-and-jetty setup, it can break straight and get tricky. The conditions aren’t clean enough to call it good.

Monday the 7th of September morning offers the best shot in the second week – 6ft from the south at 13 seconds, combined energy 1400, and cross-off wind from the NNE keeping it clean. That’s a solid-sized swell with strong energy and decent wind. It’s a bit big for beginners (over 5ft), and the long period might make it tricky on the beach, but for an experienced surfer, this is the most promising window in the whole outlook. The south direction isn’t perfect for the jetty’s optimum SE, but there could be some good ones if you pick your spot.

Tuesday the 8th through Friday the 11th keep the south swell in the 5ft to 6ft range, but the wind is almost always cross-on or onshore, and the energy stays strong (800-1200+). The waves are there, but the wind wrecks them. By the 12th and 13th, the swell drops back under 3ft and the onshore winds stick around – a total write-off.

Monday the 14th of September shows 4ft from the SE with a 9-second period, cross-off winds from the NNE, and combined energy 281. It’s clean, but small and weak. A longboard might work, but nothing special.

The standout windows are Wednesday morning the 2nd of September for the glassy, clean small waves, and Monday the 7th of September morning for the bigger, more powerful swell with decent wind. Everything else is either flat, choppy, or both. Keep an eye on that 7th – but be ready for it to be a bit heavy for the jetty.

Rusty.

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