Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at the next 16 days for our stretch of coast. The vibe is a bit of a mixed bag – we’ve got a long stretch of pretty average conditions, but there’s a couple of real gems hiding in the second week if you’re patient.

Overall, the first half of the outlook is a grind. After a weak pulse on the 27th, we’re looking at a real flat spell, with poor surf and messy winds for days on end. The energy is low, with combined swell energy readings barely cracking 200-300 for most of the last week of August. Then, around the 1st of September, things start to look a little more promising from a swell perspective, but the wind is still a problem. The real standout is a window around the 8th and 9th of September.

Let’s get into it. The only break on the cards is Big Ben. It’s an exposed beach and jetty setup, and it’s inconsistent. The water is currently sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

We kick off on Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell is a weak 3 ft from the SSW at 12 seconds, but with a 16 mph cross-shore and a cross-chop, it’s poor. The combined energy is only 490, so it’s weak. Thursday the 27th is a bit better. Morning has a long period 2 ft groundswell from the East at 14 seconds, but it’s weak. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is low (365). The afternoon is similar, with 2 ft East swell, cross-off wind, and clean conditions. Combined energy at 387. It’s a marginal call, but the cleanest we’ve seen.

From the 28th of August right through to the 31st, it’s pretty grim. The swell stays small and weak, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, making for chopped-up, poor surf. The combined energy dips into the 150-240 range. On the 30th, a short period 5 ft SW swell shows up, but with a period of only 6 seconds, it’s just a messy, weak windswell, and the cross-shore wind makes it ugly.

September 1st and 2nd see a bit more energy, with combined swell readings climbing to 559 and then 801. The swell is bumping up to 5 ft from the South, but the wind is cross-on to onshore, keeping conditions poor. The 3rd of September brings a bigger 7 ft to 8 ft South swell, with combined energy hitting 1207 and 1503. That’s a strong pulse of energy, but it’s cross-shore and cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, lumpy beast. This is definitely more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.

Now, hold on to your boards. The real standout is shaping up for the morning of Tuesday the 8th of September. The forecast shows a clean 5 ft South swell with a 12-second period, combined energy of 736, and most importantly, glassy conditions. Zero wind. That’s the one to circle. It’s a solid, clean swell, but it’s going to be a bit of a wait. The next morning, Wednesday the 9th of September, is also a good one. Leftover 5 ft SSW swell, combined energy of 693, and a light offshore breeze from the WSW. That’s clean, lined-up waves.

Beyond that, the 10th of September shows a bigger 4 ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind picks up to a strong 19 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy. The energy is strong at 1272, but it’s a fight.

So, the call is simple. The next week or so is a write-off. The best of the best is the Tuesday morning (8th September) with that glassy 5 ft South swell, hands down. The Wednesday morning (9th September) is a close second. Keep your eyes on the forecast for those days, as they’re still a way off, but the signs are promising.

Rusty.

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