Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get down to it. Big Ben is a beach/jetty break that's a bit of a tease – it's inconsistent and exposed, so it doesn't fire all the time. Water temp is running a touch warmer than normal, around 82°F, which is nice.

The start of this run is just too much of a good thing. On Wednesday, August 5th, we've got a massive 13ft SE swell with a 15-second period. The wave energy is strong, at 7482. But it's just too big for this break – it's going to be a mess. The morning wind is cross-off, which would be great, but with that size, it's a no-go. The afternoon goes cross-shore, and it's still way too big. This is for experts only, and even then, it's sketchy.

Thursday and Friday see the swell drop to 8ft and 8ft, but the wind turns onshore or cross-on, and the period drops. The energy is moderate, but the conditions are poor. It's going to be choppy and hard to surf. The forecast says it's marginal, so don't get your hopes up.

The weekend is smaller – Saturday has about 6ft, but it's onshore. Sunday is a bit better with a cross-shore wind, but the swell is a bit messy. It's still marginal, just not great.

Monday the 10th brings a bit more size, up to 7ft, with a fresh cross-off wind. The energy is moderate, but the period drops to 12 seconds. It's cleaner, but the quality is still not there.

Now, here's the one to watch. Tuesday, August 11th. The morning has a solid 12ft ENE swell with a 12-second period, and the energy jumps to 6425. The wind is a fresh cross-off from the NNE, and the forecast is saying wind and tide are favorable. This is the biggest, cleanest, most powerful swell of the whole run. It's at the upper limit for this break, so it's for experienced surfers only. The afternoon drops to 8ft, which is more manageable, but the morning is the standout.

After that, it's a slow fade. From Wednesday the 12th onward, the swell drops below 7ft, and the energy just dies. We're talking weak energy, with readings in the 400s and 600s. There are a few days with a cross-off wind, like the 13th and 15th, but the swell is only around 4ft. It's small and weak. The period drops to 10 seconds, and then down to 9 seconds later in the week. Just not enough push.

There's a slight bump around the 20th, with swell back up to 7ft, but the period is only 10 seconds and the winds are mostly cross-on. It's still only moderate energy, and it's not looking like a classic.

So, bottom line: the only real standout in this entire 16-day window is Tuesday morning, August 11th. That's the one to circle. Big, clean, powerful, and with favorable winds. It's a promise, but it's a long way out, so keep an eye on it. The rest is a lot of small, weak, and onshore slop. Big Ben is inconsistent, and this run shows it. But when it’s good, it’s good, and that Tuesday morning is the one.

Rusty.

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