Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, Rusty here, checkin’ in with a look at the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the back half of the forecast is looking like it’ll get pretty rowdy.

Alright, so for the first few days, it’s a bit of a tease. The main show is at Big Ben (a beach/jetty setup), and honestly, it’s not really firing right off the bat. The swell is there, sure—we’re lookin’ at a solid 8ft swell on Wednesday morning from the SSE, with a long 16-second period on a groundswell. That’s a lot of energy (3053), but the wind is a cross-shore from the ENE, which just isn’t gonna clean it up. It’ll be messy. The water is sitting at 74°, which is a bit colder than we usually get this time of year, so maybe grab an extra mil.

Thursday through Saturday the swell sticks around the 7ft mark, still from the south, but it’s all cross-on wind. The wave energy is still moderate to strong (around 1900-2600), but the wind just keeps ruining the party. By Saturday, we’re seeing 8ft from the SSW on a 17-second period (3784 energy), but with a moderate 12 mph cross-on wind, it’s gonna be a choppy mess. For a beginner spot like Big Ben, this is all a bit too much and too ugly.

Sunday is more of the same, with the swell dropping off. Monday and Tuesday see the swell fade away completely – we’re down to 3ft to 4ft, and the energy is weak (under 1000). It’s a bit of a dead stretch for a few days there, from about the 13th to the 15th, with nothing really worth paddling out for.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. We’ve got a standout window shaping up for the 18th of July. Saturday the 18th morning at Big Ben is looking prime. We’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the SE, with a 13-second period (1821 energy), and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE. That means clean, lined-up waves. This is the best on offer in the whole forecast period. The swell is a bit punchy for a total beginner, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is the session to circle on the calendar.

But hold onto your board, because the week after that gets next-level. From the 19th through to the 21st, the swell just pumps up. We’re talkin’ 10ft to 16ft of SSE swell (energy readings are huge – 4037 to 11643), but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. The conditions might be favorable, but 13ft to 16ft waves at a beach/jetty are for absolute experts or kamikazes. It’ll be closing out and dangerous. Not the spot for that.

The 22nd and 23rd look a bit more manageable, with 8ft to 12ft from the SE, but the wind picks up again on the 23rd, and at 12ft, it’s still a big, powerful swell. So, the big takeaway? Keep your eye on the 18th of July. That’s your best chance for a proper session without getting smashed.

Rusty.

Read more