Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Big Ben’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s going to be a slow burner, but there’s a gem waiting for the patient ones.

First up, the water temps are sitting at 73°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of the year – you’ll want a decent spring suit.

Right off the bat, we’ve got nothing happening. The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 6th is choppy and messy with a weak 2ft cross-on shore SE swell, but the wave energy is moderate (425). It’s just poor out there. Tuesday the 7th isn’t much better, a bit more push but still ugly wind. Basically, the start of the week is a total loss.

We finally see some life building through the middle of the week, but it’s accompanied by a constant cross-onshore breeze. Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th bring a solid 7ft SSE groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy in the water (3427). The problem is the wind keeps things from getting truly clean. It’s *rideable* for the more experienced crew, but beginners will be out of their depth with size over 7ft. The long period also means it might close out a bit at this beach/jetty setup.

Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th hold that size, with a peak of 8ft on Saturday morning from the SSW, still with that very long 17-second period. The wave energy is strong (3871). But again, the cross-onshore wind is the story here – it’s keeping the surface bumpy. This is one of those stretches where the power is there, but the quality is only marginal.

Things fade fast. Sunday the 12th through to the 20th of July is a really poor run. The swell drops, the wind is a mess, and you’re looking at a long stretch of days with no real recommendations. It’s a blank period.

Now, for the standout. If you’ve got the patience, mark your calendar for Tuesday, July 21st. This is the one that matters. We’ve got a 8ft E swell pushing in, but the big news is the wind. On Tuesday morning the wind turns cross-offshore and light – that’s the key. For the first time in the forecast, the conditions are described as clean. The wave energy is very strong (2398) and the swell matches the optimum direction. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – that size and clean face is a proper session. It will be an early call, and being over a week out it’s a promising prospect, but this is the window you want.

After that, it looks like the wind messes it up again in the afternoon.

So, the long and short of it: forget the first week, sit tight through the garbage, and keep your eyes locked on the 21st.

Rusty.

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