Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let's get real about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks. It's a mixed bag, a real tug-of-war between some sizable but messy south swell and some cleaner, smaller east energy. The saving grace is that the winds are looking pretty decent, so if you're willing to pick your moments, there are waves to be had. Don't expect a non-stop party, but it's not a total dead spell either. We've got a rough start ahead with a lot of chop and wind, so you'll have to be patient before things clean up.

The First Few Days: Choppy and Messy

The first couple of afternoons and the following morning, we've got some beefy swell hitting the beach, but the wind is just tearing it apart. Tuesday afternoon has a solid 5.6ft of south swell with a 9-second period, but that cross-on breeze is making it a choppy mess. There's moderate energy in the water (541), but the quality is poor. It's one of those times you look out and just shake your head.

Wednesday morning brings even more size, with a 9.8ft southwest swell, but the wind is cross-shore and it's lumpy and rough. The energy is strong (1166) and the period is short at 8 seconds, so it's going to be sectiony and challenging. This one is well overhead, so it's only for the experts, and even they might be struggling.

Finally, Some Cleaner Surf (but Small): Sep 10 - Sep 15

Thursday is a bit of a relief. The swell drops to 4.3ft from the south, and the wind turns offshore from the NNE, giving us clean conditions. It might be a bit walled, but it's not the choppy mess we've had. It's called "marginal," but there will be some waves to be had, especially in the morning.

Then things get interesting. From Friday morning through Saturday, the wind stays offshore and light, but the swell drops way off and shifts east. We're looking at small 2ft waves, but the period jumps up to 13-14 seconds. That's very long-period groundswell, and for a beach/jetty break, it can be tricky. It might run a bit straight and lack push. The energy is weak (290-374), but the conditions are clean. If you've got a longboard, this could be your best chance for a fun, mellow session.

Sunday keeps the clean theme with light winds and small east swell around 3ft. The early morning glass is your best bet. It's still that long 13-second period, so be ready for long lulls between sets. Monday morning sees a bump in size back to 4ft from the southeast, but the wind swings onshore and it gets bumpy again.

Now, Tuesday morning is a standout for this period. It's glassy with no wind, and there's 3ft of east swell with a 13-second period. The energy is moderate (497). This is the cleanest it's going to be for a while, a true glassy morning with clean little waves. It's small, but the quality will be the best of the week.

Mid-Range: More Size, But Onshore Winds: Sep 17 - Sep 21

We get a break from the onshore wind on Thursday morning, with heavy rain and glassy conditions. The swell drops to 3ft from the southeast, with a short 8-second period and weak energy (218). It'll be clean but pretty gutless. Another window for the longboard if you don't mind getting wet.

From Friday onwards, we get the next push of energy, but it's more of a windswell from the northeast. The swell builds to 5ft over the weekend, but the period is a short 7 seconds. This is where it gets tricky. The wind is either cross or cross-off, and while it might be clean, the short period means the waves will be crumbly, soft, and lack any real punch. It's the kind of surf that looks fun from the beach but turns to mush on the sandbar.

Monday

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