Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

This is a pretty grim start, I’m not gonna lie. For the first several days, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the wind is messy, and the conditions are just plain ordinary. We’re looking at a gap of over a week before anything even gets close to interesting. The water temp is sitting at 80°F with a normal anomaly of 0.7°F, so it’s about average for this time of year.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Sunday, August 3rd, but it’s a tricky one. Big Ben (beach/jetty) is an exposed spot that likes swell from the SE. By Monday afternoon, August 3rd, we see a solid 10ft swell from the SE, with a period of 17 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means proper energy and long lulls between sets. The combined energy is 4653 (moderate to strong), and while the wind is a cross-shore from the NE at 12 mph, it’s manageable. The problem is, the data says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At 10ft, it’s getting into the “experts only” zone. This is a beach/jetty setup, so that kind of power and size could be a handful. The long period groundswell will also make it break straight at the beach, so it’s not ideal for the lineup. For a true standout, I’d have to look elsewhere, but this is the only game in town.

The morning of Tuesday, August 4th, is more of the same – 12ft from the SE (6874 combined energy) and cross-shore NE wind at 12 mph. Again, too big for this spot.

By Saturday, August 8th, the swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the SW (2425 combined energy), with a light cross-onshore breeze from the S at 6 mph. The period is 15 seconds, still a nice groundswell, but the wind is a little onshore. The conditions are described as “marginal,” so it’s not going to be a clean, glassy session. It’s a step down from the huge stuff, but still not the best it could be.

Sunday, August 9th, sees 7ft from the E (2867 combined energy), with onshore wind from the SE at 6 mph. That’s a wind direction that will put a chop on the face. Not great.

Looking further into the second week, the swell stays in the 5ft to 7ft range, mostly from the E and ENE, with cross-onshore winds. The periods drop to 12 to 14 seconds. The combined energy values are moderate. Honestly, nothing here screams “go.” It’s all marginal or poor.

So, the bottom line: if you’re an expert and can handle some serious size, the Monday afternoon, August 3rd, and Tuesday morning, August 4th, are your only real shots. For everyone else, this is a long, blank run. The one standout is the Monday afternoon, August 3rd, with that 10ft, 17-second SE groundswell, but only if you’re ready for a heavy session at Big Ben.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. Things can change.

Rusty

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