Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Big Ben.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things are gonna build through the first weekend and into the following week. To be honest, the early part of the outlook is pretty messy. Friday the 4th through Saturday the 5th are a write-off for a decent paddle. We’re looking at cross-shore winds and pretty average conditions, with small, weak, short-period swell in the 2ft range on Friday, building to a more powerful but still poor 6ft on Saturday thanks to a 7 second period and moderate breeze. The combined swell energy on Saturday afternoon hits 392 (moderate), but the wind is just making a mess of it.

Sunday the 6th is where it starts to get interesting. In the morning, the swell pushes up to 8ft from the ENE with a 7 second period, and we get a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. The combined energy jumps to 576 (moderate to strong). It’s a marginal call but clean. That’s the first real window. Sunday afternoon though, the wind swings and gets fresh, lumping it right up.

Now, the standout window in this run is Monday the 7th, specifically the afternoon. We get a solid 7ft of ENE groundswell – that's a 10-second period – with a proper offshore breeze from the NNW at 30 km/h. The combined swell energy is a hefty 1016 (strong), and with that offshore wind, it’s going to be clean and lined-up. This is expert territory given the size and power, and it’s a beach/jetty setup, so the longer period will be making it wall up. Keep in mind, Big Ben can be inconsistent, and the crowds are sometimes an issue, especially when it looks this good.

The following week has a few more moments. Wednesday the 9th sees the swell get big and rowdy, topping out at 10ft from the S with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 3172 (very strong), but the winds are messy cross-shore. Too big and lumpy for most.

Thursday the 10th afternoon offers another good chance. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the S, with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy offshore from the NW, barely a breath. The combined energy is 820 (moderate to strong). It’s clean and will be fun for the more experienced crew.

After that, we fade out into the second week. There’s a long gap of poor to marginal conditions from the 11th through to the 16th, with small, often onshore swell and weak energy. Look towards Thursday the 17th in the morning for another potential clean-up. We get a light offshore breeze and a small but clean 4ft E swell with an 8-second period. It’s a low-energy 259, but if you’re after a quiet, small-wave session, it might be your pick.

Overall, the best bet on this run is the Monday 7th afternoon session—solid groundswell, offshore wind, and plenty of power—but keep your wits about you, it’s big. For a slightly more relaxed but still quality wave, the Thursday 10th afternoon glass-off is the one to circle.

Rusty.

Read more