
Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SE swell with 4,369 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk swell. This stretch has a bit of everything, but you gotta be patient. The next couple of days are small and a bit jumbled, but there’s a proper pulse of energy coming mid-period that’s going to shake things up. The big one is Saturday the 19th – that’s the standout, but it’s a beast. For the average punter, Sunday morning on the 20th is your sweet spot.
Tuesday the 15th – the morning has a light cross-shore breeze and a weak 1.0m east swell with a 14-second period. It’s not exciting, but the afternoon turns it on. The wind drops to glass, the swell holds at 1.0m, and the energy bumps to 552 – moderate. It’s clean and fun for the beginners and those just wanting a cruise. Swell direction is east, which works.
Wednesday the 16th – morning is your pick. Cleaner with a cross-off breeze, 0.9m east swell, 13-second period, energy at 390. It’s okay, but nothing special. The afternoon gets cross-shore and weaker, so don’t bother.
Thursday the 17th – the size jumps but the quality tanks. Morning sees 1.6m, but the period drops to 7 seconds – that’s short-period wind swell, lumpy and grindy. Energy is moderate (366). The afternoon gets bigger at 1.8m, but still short-period, and the wind picks up to 30 km/h cross-off – clean-ish but poor quality. Leave it.
Friday the 18th – this is where it starts to get real. Morning is small, 0.7m, but the period is a huge 18 seconds – proper groundswell. Energy is already 714 (moderate to strong), but the lack of size makes it fat. The afternoon though – 2.1m, 16-second period, and energy explodes to 2578. That’s strong. Wind is cross-off and clean. But at a beach/jetty, that long period might make it close out. Still, it’s a big step up.
Saturday the 19th – the big one. Morning brings 3.5m of southeast swell, 13-second period, and energy of 4852 – that’s very, very strong. Wind is cross-off and clean, but this is way too big for this break. It’s closure city, only for the heaviest crew. The afternoon backs off to 3.0m, energy at 2947, still too big. This is a day to watch, not paddle out. Swell direction is southeast, which is the ideal angle, but the size blows it out.
Sunday the 20th – drops to a more manageable 2.5m in the morning, period 10 seconds, energy at 2230 (strong). Wind is clean and cross-off. This is for experienced surfers – big, but not insane, and the surface is clean. Swell direction is east-southeast. The afternoon fades to 2.0m but the wind goes cross-onshore, so it gets bumpy. Morning is the window.
From Monday the 21st on, it’s a slow fade. Swell stays around 2.0m, period 12-13 seconds, energy still strong (1734-1986). But the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, so it’s chopped up. Tuesday the 22nd has a 2.2m morning with a 14-second period and energy at 1986 – decent size, but light cross-ons
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | E 12 | SSE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 18 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
239 | 233 | 218 | 384 | 383 | 411 | 345 | 276 | 255 | 184 | 236 | 372 | 393 | 314 | 2113 | 3813 | 3993 | 2872 | 1410 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:58AM1.59m | 5:50PM1.57m | 6:37AM1.52m | 6:10PM1.56m | 7:20AM1.42m | 6:29PM1.55m | 8:11AM1.30m | 6:50PM1.51m | 9:25AM1.19m | 7:10PM1.46m | 7:26PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:41PM0.39m | 11:55AM0.58m | 00:13AM0.33m | 12:20PM0.71m | 00:48AM0.32m | 12:42PM0.84m | 1:26AM0.34m | 1:01PM0.96m | 2:13AM0.40m | 1:11PM1.08m | 3:15AM0.48m | ||||||||
— | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 22 | 22 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 9 | E 14 | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 18 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 11 |
239 | 233 | 193 | 183 | 383 | 131 | 136 | 276 | 255 | 184 | 71 | 91 | 94 | 314 | 2113 | 3813 | 3993 | 2872 | 1410 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 10 | ENE 15 | E 14 | SE 8 | E 14 | E 13 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | E 12 | ESE 11 | — | NE 10 | E 10 | SSE 12 |
44 | 74 | 78 | 384 | 111 | 411 | 345 | 93 | 67 | 63 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 134 | 254 | — | 229 | 73 | 954 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | WSW 4 | ENE 10 | — | — | SE 8 | E 16 | ENE 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | — | — | SSE 16 | S 9 | S 15 |
15 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 10 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 40 | 8 | 7 | 7 | — | — | 446 | 2 | 155 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SSE 10 | SW 4 | — | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | — |
— | 2 | 218 | 10 | — | — | — | 21 | 45 | 49 | 236 | 372 | 393 | 259 | 211 | 214 | 184 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 121 | 121 | 35 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 184 | 184 | 534 | 513 | 534 | 530 | 530 | 22 | 6 |
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.










