Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s period, SSE swell with 2,202 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. 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 2.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk about Big Ben over the next couple of weeks.
It's a slow start. Sunday the 23rd is flat and ugly with onshore junk – no reason to get wet.
The first real shot comes Monday morning the 24th. Glassy conditions, a clean 1.3m SSE swell with a 14-second period, and 1260 units of energy. Water temp is about average for this time of year. This one's for experienced surfers – nice shape from the long period, but at a beach/jetty setup those waves might run a bit straight. Still, with glassy wind, it's the clear standout early on.
Monday afternoon the wind goes bad. Tuesday the 25th has a 2.4m S swell in the morning, but it's choppy with cross breeze. Too big for beginners, and not clean enough for anyone else to call it good.
Wednesday the 26th drops to 1.5m with wind still messy. Thursday the 27th is small and short-period (8 seconds) – all chop.
Friday the 28th gives a little hope: morning offshore wind with a clean 0.9m east swell at 13 seconds, glassy in the afternoon. Small, but clean. Good for a longboard.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are back to marginal – small and crosswind.
Monday the 31st sees the swell bump up to 1-1.5m from the ESE with 14-second periods, light wind but cross-onshore later. Might get a session early.
Now, Tuesday the 1st of September is another standout: 1.7m from the east at 13 seconds, clean cross-offshore breeze, and 1058 units of energy. This is for experienced surfers again – proper conditions, good energy. Afternoon holds but wind shifts.
Wednesday the 2nd through Friday the 4th stay small to modest with persistent cross winds and chop – nothing special.
Saturday the 5th starts weak with a 0.7m SSE swell, but late afternoon shows a 1.3m pulse at 16 seconds (1359 energy). Long-period groundswell – might close out at the beach, but could be interesting if the tide works.
For the second week: Sunday the 6th of September brings a push of ENE swell – 2.5m in the morning (short 8-second period, 1200 energy). That builds to 3.0m in the afternoon, and by Monday the 7th morning it's a solid 4.0m with 3106 energy. That's way too big for this break – expert-only territory, and even then the wind will be cross or cross-onshore. For a beach/jetty setup, that's more kite-surfing conditions than paddle surf. Keep an eye on it, but don't count on a good surf day.
So bottom line: Monday the 24th morning and Tuesday the 1st of September morning are your best bets. Clean, solid, good energy. The rest is either small, chopped, or too big.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SW 12 | S 9 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
198 | 125 | 106 | 209 | 621 | 976 | 2202 | 2029 | 1811 | 1370 | 670 | 534 | 307 | 163 | 192 | 273 | 256 | 187 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:26PM1.33m | 4:10PM1.33m | 00:01AM1.29m | 4:16PM1.41m | 1:46AM1.34m | 4:31PM1.46m | 2:51AM1.43m | 4:50PM1.50m | 3:40AM1.52m | 5:08PM1.52m | 4:23AM1.58m | 5:27PM1.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:19AM0.44m | 8:35PM1.23m | 8:26AM0.35m | 9:17PM1.13m | 9:13AM0.27m | 9:46PM1.02m | 9:53AM0.22m | 10:14PM0.89m | 10:28AM0.21m | 10:42PM0.76m | 10:59AM0.24m | 11:10PM0.64m | |||||||
— | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | |
6:20 | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:13 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSW 11 |
198 | 125 | 85 | 209 | 621 | 722 | 2202 | 2029 | 1811 | 1370 | 670 | 534 | 304 | 158 | 101 | 160 | 99 | 165 | 245 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | ESE 12 | E 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | E 11 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | E 12 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 |
65 | 30 | 82 | 104 | 540 | 976 | 116 | 311 | 225 | 215 | 176 | 133 | 134 | 146 | 173 | 273 | 256 | 187 | 184 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 13 | E 9 | E 12 | E 12 | E 15 | E 14 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 15 | E 11 | E 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
29 | 7 | 106 | 59 | 99 | 175 | 68 | 306 | 4 | 42 | 148 | 138 | 40 | 83 | 52 | 72 | 23 | 23 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | NNE 2 | NE 3 | — | — | SW 9 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | S 4 | S 10 | S 8 | S 9 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 |
9 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 29 | 35 | 33 | — | — | — | 14 | 307 | 163 | 192 | — | 14 | 6 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 70 | 114 | 534 | 39 | 70 | 30 | 81 | 70 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
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.











