Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with 512 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Ben in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, taking a look at Big Ben for the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting off with a flat spell. From Tuesday the 18th through Monday the 24th, it’s mostly small, onshore junk. The water temp is about 81°F, which is normal for the season. Nothing special.
The energy is weak, under 200 units for days on end. Not worth suiting up. There’s a tiny glimmer on Saturday the 22nd with some chest-high 3ft east swell, but the wind is side-shore and messy. The real first good look is Sunday morning the 23rd: glassy conditions with a 3ft east swell. That’s as clean as it gets for beginners. Mark that.
Tuesday the 25th brings a proper pulse: 4ft southeast swell with a 12-second period, energy jumps to 768. Light cross-shore wind. Solid. By Thursday the 27th, the swell is 7ft from the south with a 14-second period, but the onshore wind is 25 km/h (15 mph). It’s choppy and big – that’s expert-only water even if it was clean. Friday the 28th is 7ft from the south-southwest, but a strong 40 km/h (25 mph) cross-shore breeze ruins it.
Your best bet for a solid but not insane session is the weekend of the 30th and 31st. Swell drops to 4ft to 5ft from the south-southwest with a nice 14-second period. The wind is cross-onshore but manageable, and the energy is in the 900-1000 range. Good moderate power.
Then things go crazy. Tuesday the 1st of September: 8ft to 10ft east-southeast swell with short 10-second period, but wind is howling 40 km/h (25 mph) onshore. Messy. Wednesday the 2nd of September is the big one: 16ft to 23ft east swell with periods of 12 and 14 seconds. Energy is off the charts – 8429 and then 20906. The wind is offshore and clean at 30-35 km/h (18-22 mph). That’s huge, dangerous groundswell. Big Ben as a beach/jetty is not the place for that. Over 8ft is expert only, and this is triple overhead. It’s a spectacle for kite surfers, not paddle surfers.
So, the two standouts: Sunday the 23rd of August for a clean, glassy beginner bump, and the mornings of Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August for a bigger, cleaner window for intermediates. The early September giant is for watching, not riding.
Keep it salty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 9 | SE 10 | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 54 | 39 | 49 | 39 | 42 | 57 | 57 | 58 | 90 | 92 | 159 | 200 | 198 | 190 | 90 | 108 | 132 | 101 | 149 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:20AM1.27m | 7:46PM1.47m | 9:31AM1.15m | 8:09PM1.44m | 8:37PM1.39m | 9:26PM1.33m | 4:10PM1.33m | 00:01AM1.29m | 4:16PM1.41m | 1:46AM1.34m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 2:01AM0.49m | 1:39PM0.82m | 2:52AM0.50m | 1:53PM0.97m | 4:00AM0.52m | 5:40AM0.51m | 7:19AM0.44m | 8:35PM1.23m | 8:26AM0.35m | 9:17PM1.13m | |||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — |
 | 6:24 | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 9 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 11 | SSW 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 |
| kJ | 39 | 23 | 39 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 57 | 45 | 90 | 92 | 159 | 200 | 198 | 190 | 90 | 108 | 132 | 101 | 149 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | SE 10 | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 8 | E 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | ESE 12 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 54 | 39 | 49 | 39 | 42 | 57 | 22 | 24 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 55 | 56 | 67 | 83 | 60 | 39 | 51 | 36 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 8 | SE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SW 9 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 36 | 35 | 6 | 36 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 58 | 30 | 47 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 41 | 40 | 35 | 33 | 35 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | SSW 2 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 35 | 30 | 0 | 24 | 30 | 35 | 30 | 30 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Chiba | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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