
Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with 1,432 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Ben this week:
The surf forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Ben in the next 16 days are 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Alright, lookin’ at the next couple weeks here, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a pulse of solid, mid-period swell rollin' in right from the get-go, but that clean, organised energy gets chewed up pretty quick by shifting winds and lumpy conditions. The standout window is real narrow – if you can paddle out Tuesday the 11th, that’s where it’s at. After that, it’s a whole lot of lookin’ at the ocean and scratchin’ your head for days, before a late-arriving southerly groundswell tries to put a bit of life back into things around the 25th, but it’s a long way off.
Let’s get into it. The main event hits first thing Tuesday morning, August 11th, at Big Ben (beach/jetty). We’ve got a decent 8ft swell pumpin’ in from the ENE with a solid 12-second period, packin’ a proper punch with combined wave energy of 1448 (strong to very strong). That’s some serious juice, so this one’s for experienced surfers only – too much grunt for beginners. The wind is a light offshore out of the NNW at just 15 km/h, keepin’ it clean. It’s a bit inconsistent here, and crowds are sometimes an issue, but for a few hours Tuesday mornin’, it’s about as good as it gets. Water temp is sittin’ at 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Then the wheels fall off. By Tuesday afternoon, the wind swings SW and howls to 30 km/h, turning it into a lumpy, cross-shore mess. Wednesday the 12th brings more trouble – risk of thunderstorms, cross-onshore winds, and choppy conditions that drop the quality to zero. Thursday and Friday stay pretty average; we see the swell drop back to around 5ft to 5ft from the east, but winds are messy. Saturday morning offers a clean-ish look with a 6ft east swell, but the cross-shore breeze makes it tricky, and the combined energy is still moderate (639). Honestly, nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for.
We hit a big gap of poor surf from Saturday the 15th afternoon all the way through to Monday the 24th. That’s nearly ten days where you’re better off doin’ somethin’ else. The swell drops below 4ft, winds are junk from all different angles, and the energy numbers are pathetic – mostly below 400. It’s a real dry spell.
Now, lookin’ way down the line, there’s a flicker of hope. Come Tuesday morning, August 25th, we see a fresh southerly groundswell start to fill in. A 5ft swell from the SSE with a very long 13-second period pushes combined energy to 1005 (strong). Winds are light cross-shore out of the SSW at 15 km/h, keepin’ it manageable. This is a proper groundswell, so the longer period will mean better-shaped lines and longer waits between sets, but at a beach/jetty setup, the period can make it break a bit straight. Still, it’s the best thing on the horizon after that big hole. It’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it, but it’s promisin’. Conditions get a bit choppier through the afternoon.
Stick with the Tuesday morning session if you’re keen – that’s the only real standout in this forecast.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the N by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 12 | E 12 | ENE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1343 | 1290 | 494 | 727 | 226 | 293 | 414 | 524 | 514 | 530 | 530 | 494 | 587 | 723 | 1045 | 1403 | 1412 | 867 | 399 | 218 | 106 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:00PM1.47m | 3:13AM1.47m | 5:21PM1.50m | 4:00AM1.54m | 5:41PM1.52m | 4:43AM1.58m | 6:02PM1.53m | 5:24AM1.59m | 6:22PM1.53m | 6:04AM1.56m | 6:42PM1.52m | 6:45AM1.49m | 7:03PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:42AM0.17m | 10:08PM1.02m | 10:20AM0.13m | 10:38PM0.92m | 10:54AM0.14m | 11:08PM0.81m | 11:26AM0.18m | 11:38PM0.70m | 11:57AM0.26m | 00:10AM0.61m | 12:25PM0.38m | 00:43AM0.54m | 12:52PM0.51m | 1:20AM0.50m | |||||||
4:54 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | |
— | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:25 | — | |
mm | — | 8 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 12 | E 12 | ENE 11 | SSW 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
1343 | 1290 | 494 | 58 | 226 | 293 | 414 | 524 | 514 | 530 | 530 | 494 | 587 | 58 | 865 | 1403 | 1412 | 867 | 399 | 218 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | NE 10 | SSW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 10 | SSE 6 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SE 10 |
60 | 380 | 58 | 47 | 95 | 37 | 86 | 85 | 58 | 48 | 48 | 41 | 30 | 12 | 52 | 65 | 56 | 49 | 45 | 30 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SE 13 | SW 11 | WSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SW 8 |
45 | 27 | 42 | 4 | 27 | 90 | 2 | 13 | 55 | 45 | 52 | 48 | 22 | 15 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 58 | 42 | 41 | 18 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 11 | SSW 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | NNE 4 | — | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 |
— | 194 | 108 | 727 | 46 | 6 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 723 | 1045 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 177 | 121 | 513 | 48 | 0 | 6 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 6 | 184 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 38 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Chiba | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Big Ben Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Big Ben provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Ben can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Ben surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Big Ben) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Big Ben may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Big Ben is 3 km (2 miles) from Kawaguchi. If you plan a holiday in Chiba, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











