Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a slow start, but patience is going to pay off big time. The real fireworks are a long way off, but if you can wait, there’s a monster of a session waiting for us.

The first few days are pretty quiet. Monday the 20th is a write-off – tiny 2ft to 2ft SW swell with a long period of 15 to 16 seconds, but the wind is all over the place. The energy is weak (185), so it’s not worth paddling out for. Tuesday the 21st is a step up with a bit more size, 3ft from the SW, and the wind turns offshore. The energy picks up to a moderate 317, and it’s clean. That’s the first real window for a cruise. Wednesday the 22nd holds similar small waves, but the wind gets stronger so it’s less appealing.

Thursday the 23rd is where things get interesting, but maybe too interesting. The swell jumps up to 12ft from the SW, with a strong 14 second period. The combined energy is massive at 6200. That’s stout, expert-only territory, and the cross-off wind will keep it clean but powerful. Friday the 24th stays big, around 8ft to 8ft from the SSW, with a long 16 second period. The energy is still very strong (4101), but the wind is a fresh 22 mph on the afternoon, making it gnarly. Saturday the 25th is more of the same, with an 12ft pulse from the SW again, and the energy is even bigger at 4548. This whole stretch from the 23rd to the 25th is only for the highly skilled.

Sunday the 26th eases off a touch, back to 4ft to 5ft, but the energy is still moderate (578). The cross-off wind keeps it clean, but it’s a bit of a drop-off from the big stuff.

Now, here’s the standout. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 29th. The morning looks absolutely perfect. We’re looking at a clean 6ft SSW swell with a very long 16 second period. The wind is glassy – absolutely zero, just a slight air. The energy is strong at 1962, and the conditions are rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper groundswell, so it’s going to wrap into Bells Beach – Bowl (Victoria, Australia) with power and shape. The crowd can be *sometimes* an issue here, but on a Wednesday morning with a bit of size, you might get lucky.

Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are still very good, with 4ft to 5ft SSW swell and glassy to light offshore winds. The energy stays moderate to strong (545 to 1015), making for clean, fun sessions.

The second week is where the forecast gets a bit wild, but less certain. Saturday, August 1st, sees the swell kick up again to 8ft to 8ft SSW with a 16 second period, and the energy jumps to 5312. That’s big and powerful. Then Sunday, August 2nd, is the real beast. The forecast shows a massive 13ft to 15ft SW swell with a 17 second period, and the combined energy is an off-the-charts 19006. That’s huge, dangerous, and only for the absolute elite. The wind is light and offshore in the morning, so it would be a sight to see, but it’s too big for most. Monday, August 3rd, settles a bit to a still heavy 7ft to 8ft.

Water temp is sitting at 57° at Bells, which is about 1° above normal – so pretty average for this time of year, nothing crazy.

The absolute best bet on offer is that Wednesday, July 29th. The combo of a solid 6ft groundswell, glassy wind, and that long 16 second period is going to produce some classic Bells lines. Get out there.

Rusty.

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