Big Ben Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.12° N 140.12° E

Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Ben sea temperature is
26.9°C
0.7° 

Big Ben surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Big Ben surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SE swell with 3,797 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9AM. 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 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (JST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sat 12th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 9AM (Sat 19th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 19th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s see what’s cooking at Big Ben.

Right now, we’re looking at a run of fun, clean, smaller waves to kick things off. The water temp is sitting pretty average for this time of year, nothing wild there. The overall swell energy is moderate, hitting around the 300s on the meter.

Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are your windows for a good, easy surf. Saturday morning sees light rain and a gentle breeze, but the surf is clean with 2ft of east swell. By Sunday afternoon, the wind drops right off to glass, making for some really clean 3ft waves. This is a great time for the beginners out there, real mellow.

Monday the 14th gets a bit choppy as the wind turns onshore, so I’d give that a miss. But then Tuesday the 15th morning is a proper standout. We get a glassy calm, 4ft of east swell with a period of 14 seconds – that’s some nice, long-period groundswell energy coming through (combined swell energy of 580). The wind is dead calm, so it’ll be clean as a whistle. If you’re a competent surfer, that Tuesday morning session is your best bet of this first week.

Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th stay clean with offshore winds, though the size drops back to 2ft to 4ft. The period shortens up a bit on Thursday afternoon to 6 seconds, so the energy will be a bit weaker and more choppy.

Now, here’s where it gets heavy. From Friday the 18th, the swell really starts to pump. We’re talking a massive SE groundswell. Friday morning the swell energy is already strong at 2504, with 5ft waves. By Friday afternoon, it’s hitting 8ft with a 16-second period (energy at 3227). This is a serious, powerful groundswell. For this kind of long-period swell, a beach/jetty setup like Big Ben can be a bit wonky; these waves are best suited for a point or reef break. It’s getting into expert-only territory.

Saturday the 19th rolls in with a very solid 10ft of SE swell in the morning (energy of 4156). The finder notes say the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a straight-up warning. At that size, with the wind and tide being favorable for the swell itself, this is going to be a washing machine. Only absolute experts should even consider it, and even then, it’s a massive gamble.

After that, the swell slowly drops but stays in the 5ft to 5ft range through the 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Conditions are marginal with a mix of cross and cross-on winds. It’s not a total write-off, but you’re fighting for the good ones.

Then we get a round of nasty weather. On the 23rd, we’re looking at near-gale force winds from the SSW, blowing 31 mph, with a 5ft SE swell. That’s a full-blown blown-out mess. The combined energy is still strong (1826), but with that wind, the quality will be zero.

The end of the forecast period is another massive pulse. From the 24th all the way through the 27th, the swell explodes to 10ft, then 13ft, then 16ft of SSE groundswell. The energy readings are off the charts, going from 4463 up to a monstrous 14731. The file says it again and again: “swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” This is a major, dangerous, humungous swell event. For 4 days straight, it's going to be maxing out and totally unsurfable for 100% of people. A serious weather and surf warning applies. This period is a complete write-off for paddling.

So, to sum it up: The standout is Tuesday the 15th morning for clean, glassy, waist-to-chest high groundswell. Everything after the 18th is either too big, too windy, or both, until we get to the gigantic, dangerous swell at the end.

Stay safe, watch the sets, and don’t be a hero on those 16ft days.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NNE by Thu night).

Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
0
1
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
E
14
0.9
E
13
0.9
ESE
13
0.9
E
13
0.9
E
13
0.8
E
12
0.9
E
12
0.9
E
12
1
E
14
1
E
14
1.1
E
14
1
E
13
1
E
13
0.9
E
13
0.8
E
12
0.7
E
12
1.7
ENE
7
2.4
ENE
8
2.3
ENE
8
2.1
ENE
8
1.3
SE
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
180
289
295
272
276
190
233
244
384
383
496
345
340
255
184
155
266
741
687
593
886
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
15
NNE
10
NNE
5
NE
10
S
10
S
15
SSW
20
SSW
15
SW
5
SSW
15
SSW
0
NW
15
NE
15
NE
15
NNE
20
NNE
25
NE
25
NNE
30
NNE
30
NNE
20
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:12PM1.55m
5:20AM1.63m
5:30PM1.56m
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
Low Tide
11:01AM0.38m
11:11PM0.48m
11:29AM0.47m
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
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:18
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:22
5:22
5:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:50
5:49
5:47
5:45
5:45
5:43
 mm
2
3
1
2
1
3
4
Temp °C
21
22
22
25
26
25
28
27
26
27
27
25
25
24
22
23
23
22
21
22
23
Feels °C
23
24
25
29
30
29
29
28
29
29
29
29
28
26
24
22
21
20
18
21
24
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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