Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in on the local surf scene. We've got one spot to look at, and it's a bit of a mixed bag, so let's get into it.

First up, the water temp at Big Ben is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might get away with boardshorts or a spring suit.

The forecast period kicks off with a bit of a slow start. The first few days, from Saturday the 29th to Tuesday the 1st of September, are pretty lackluster. We're seeing small swell from the east, around 1 ft to 3 ft, with a mix of glassy conditions and light cross-shore breezes. It's surfable, but very ordinary, and the combined swell energy is weak, sitting around 128 to 359, so you're not going to get much push. It's a bit of a quiet start, honestly.

We then hit a bit of a gap from Wednesday the 2nd through to Friday the 4th. The swell stays small and weak, with energy reading between 199 and 264, and the wind is all over the place, from light onshore to moderate cross-shore. The conditions are poor, and the wave quality just isn't there. It's a waiting game.

Now, the first real standout of the outlook arrives on Sunday the 6th of September, in the afternoon. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the SSE, with a very long period of 15 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1083. The wind is a cross-shore from the ENE at 12 mph, so it's a bit lumpy. However, this is a beach/jetty break, and that long period swell can make it break a bit straight, so keep that in mind. It's a solid window, but not perfect.

The next big event rolls in from Monday the 7th, and it's a classic case of "too much of a good thing." By Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th, we're looking at a massive 12 ft swell from the ESE, with a period of 12 to 13 seconds. The combined energy is monstrous, hitting 3545 to 4250. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, but the real issue is that this is way too big for Big Ben. It's a real shame because the power is there, but it's going to be a washing machine. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it's going to be a challenge. The forecast is saying it's too big for this break.

This lingers into Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th, with swell dropping to 13 ft and 10 ft, but the wind gets really strong, with gusts up to 28 mph. The energy is still through the roof, over 11,000 on Thursday morning, but the conditions are just blown out. It's a no-go for surfing, but that kind of wind and swell combo might be more interesting for the kite surfers, as the beach setup is all over the place.

By the start of the second week, things calm down a bit. Saturday the 12th still has a solid 8 ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is howling at 28 mph, making it a mess. Into Sunday the 13th, the swell drops to 5 ft, but the wind is still a strong 22 mph. It's a poor end to the outlook.

So, to wrap it up, the only real window to consider is that Sunday afternoon, September 6th, with the long-period groundswell. It's not perfect, but it's the best on offer. The rest of the period is either too small, too windy, or too big. Keep an eye on the forecast, though, because it's a dynamic spot.

Rusty.

Read more