
Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 17s period, SE swell with 22,380 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with SSW 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 (Jul 29) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s 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 6.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s take a look at the extended outlook for Big Ben. The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but the second weekend is shaping up to be something special.
For the first week, it’s a slow start. Wednesday the 29th shows a bit of energy with a combined swell energy of 351 and a clean 5ft SW swell that’s cross-offshore, but it’s inconsistent so don’t get your hopes too high. By Thursday, it drops right off to tiny 3ft and 2ft waves with energy levels falling to 89 and 70; just a bit of a waist-high dribble. Friday holds at knee-to-waist high, but the wind turns onshore in the afternoon, making it messy.
The weekend is where it gets interesting. Saturday the 1st of August is a write-off – tiny, onshore, and choppy. But then Sunday the 2nd sees a pulse of very long-period groundswell (14 seconds) arriving. The morning looks unreal with a glassy 4ft ESE swell and a combined energy of 729—that’s moderate energy, but the clean conditions make it a standout for the whole period. The afternoon bumps up to 5ft with a 15-second period. The swell direction is ESE, which is a touch off from the optimum SE direction, but with those long periods and glassy-to-light offshore wind, it’ll be super clean for Big Ben. The water temperature is 81°, which is about a degree warmer than usual for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.
Now, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th see a massive jump in swell. We’re talking 8ft to 16ft of SE groundswell, with periods of 17-18 seconds. The combined energy rockets into the thousands (4732, 5585, 9754, 13832) – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. This is expert-only territory. The swell size is over 8ft, the period is very long, and it’s a beach/jetty setup, so those long-period waves will be hard to handle and might break too straight. The wind is either cross or cross-off, keeping it clean, but for most of us, it’s a watch-and-wonder day. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Wednesday the 5th is even bigger, hitting 20ft with a 17-second period and a combined energy of 20717. Still, the wind is cross-offshore in the morning, but by the afternoon, rain showers and a fresh 19 mph cross-shore wind will make it lumpy. Again, this is for the brave or the kite crew.
From Thursday the 6th through to Wednesday the 13th, the surf drops back down but stays messy. There are a few sessions with clean waves, like Sunday the 9th morning with a 6ft E swell at 14 seconds and a combined energy of 1710, but the wind is onshore, and the conditions are marginal. The best of this second week is probably Thursday the 13th morning: a solid 15ft SSE swell, a 12-second period, a combined energy of 10186, and cross-offshore winds cleaning it up. But again, 15ft is only for experts, and the wind is strong at 12 mph. It’s powerful but risky.
Overall, the standout window is Sunday the 2nd of August. It’s the only day where the size is manageable for a good range of surfers, the wind is perfect, and the swell has real energy. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SE 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 18 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SE 17 | SE 17 | SE 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
189 | 105 | 69 | 51 | 33 | 38 | 82 | 47 | 28 | 56 | 76 | 217 | 621 | 1069 | 2065 | 4632 | 5488 | 6555 | 9599 | 13832 | 17272 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:50PM1.50m | 4:19AM1.53m | 6:13PM1.51m | 5:03AM1.55m | 6:35PM1.50m | 5:45AM1.54m | 6:57PM1.49m | 6:27AM1.49m | 7:20PM1.48m | 7:11AM1.41m | 7:42PM1.47m | 7:59AM1.30m | 8:06PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:45AM0.06m | 11:02PM0.94m | 11:20AM0.08m | 11:34PM0.85m | 11:52AM0.14m | 00:07AM0.76m | 12:24PM0.23m | 00:41AM0.69m | 12:53PM0.36m | 1:18AM0.62m | 1:22PM0.51m | 1:59AM0.58m | 1:49PM0.67m | 2:48AM0.56m | |||||||
4:45 | — | — | 4:46 | — | — | 4:47 | — | — | 4:47 | — | — | 4:48 | — | — | 4:48 | — | — | 4:50 | — | — | |
— | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SE 10 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 15 | ESE 17 | ESE 18 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SE 17 | SE 17 | SE 17 |
120 | 48 | 69 | 51 | 33 | 38 | 82 | 47 | 28 | 23 | 16 | 217 | 621 | 1069 | 2065 | 4632 | 5488 | 6555 | 9599 | 13832 | 17272 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | E 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 11 | ESE 14 | E 10 | SE 5 | ENE 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | — | — |
34 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 76 | 49 | 27 | 72 | 109 | 100 | 97 | 94 | 92 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 11 | SE 15 | E 11 | ENE 16 | ENE 16 | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 56 | 57 | 83 | 81 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SSW 7 | — | ENE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 8 | E 4 | ESE 5 | — | SE 5 | ESE 5 | — | — | E 6 | NE 5 | — | — |
189 | 105 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 9 | 38 | — | 20 | 14 | — | — | 66 | 63 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 184 | 81 | 29 | 0 | 30 | 29 | 6 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 48 | 532 |
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.










