Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.6°C
0.7° 

Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,752 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bells Beach - Bowl this week:

The surf forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Fri 11th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 16s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 11th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 16s
Most Powerful 4AM (Wed 16th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cookin' at Bells Beach.

We've got some action coming through, starting this Friday the 11th. It's not a pretty picture right out of the gate, though. The Bowl is packing a solid 7ft SSW groundswell, but a light SE onshore breeze is messing with the surface. The energy in the water is enormous, reading 2080, so there's plenty of grunt, just not the clean finish you want.

The real highlight starts shaping up for Saturday the 12th. The morning swell drops a touch to 6ft from the SSW, but the wind swings around to a light N cross-off breeze. For this exposed reef and point, that's a massive improvement. The conditions turn clean, and the swell energy is still strong at 1427. By the afternoon, the wind eases even more to a slight N cross-off, with the swell settling to a clean 5ft from the SW. This is your window for the experienced crew – that 15-second period groundswell will have the waves wrapping in with real purpose. Expect some company, it’s Bells on a weekend.

Sunday the 13th sees the swell dropping, but a moderate N cross-off keeps things rideable for anyone wanting smaller waves. The next big moment looks like Thursday the 17th. A crisp W cross-off wind at 6 mph will groom a 5ft SSW groundswell (1057 combined energy) into clean, powerful lines. Then into the second week, Friday the 18th looks promising with a fresh NW offshore wind at 18 mph, holding up a 5ft SW swell. It'll be a bit blowy, but the energy is there at 1592.

If you want the absolute best session of the whole 16 days, you have to look at Monday the 21st. After a clean but building morning, the afternoon brings a 7ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, and a light WNW offshore breeze. The ocean will be glassy and clean, with a massive 2008 combined energy reading. That's about as perfect as this place gets. Tuesday the 22nd also pumps a solid 8ft SW swell, but that size is getting into expert-only territory, and the wind turns more side-shore.

After that, things wind down through the end of the period. There are some clean morning windows with lighter NW offshore winds and 3ft to 4ft swells, but nothing that stands out as a must-surf.

So, here’s the plan: if you want clean, manageable power, get out on Saturday the 12th. But if you're after the biggest, cleanest, and most powerful session of the entire run, you don't miss Monday the 21st afternoon.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the W by Thu morning).

Fri
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
3
2
1
1
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
1
4
4
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
SSW
16
2
SSW
16
1.7
SSW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
1
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.3
SW
18
2.5
SW
13
2.4
SW
14
2.5
SSW
14
2.3
SSW
15
2.2
SSW
15
1.9
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
14
1.5
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1856
1953
1288
955
684
509
471
255
147
109
54
2429
2290
2460
2212
2119
1611
1057
721
886
Wind (km/h)
10
SE
5
NNE
10
N
5
N
10
N
20
N
15
N
20
N
15
NW
20
WSW
20
WSW
25
WSW
35
SW
25
S
20
S
20
SSW
10
W
10
W
10
S
15
NW
Wind State
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
11:38PM1.64m
12:19PM1.75m
00:41AM1.78m
1:01PM1.80m
1:32AM1.89m
1:38PM1.84m
2:15AM1.97m
2:13PM1.85m
2:55AM1.99m
2:45PM1.84m
3:31AM1.96m
3:16PM1.80m
Low Tide
5:39PM0.68m
5:58AM0.45m
6:31PM0.49m
6:52AM0.44m
7:14PM0.33m
7:38AM0.43m
7:53PM0.21m
8:19AM0.45m
8:29PM0.14m
8:56AM0.49m
9:03PM0.13m
9:30AM0.55m
9:37PM0.16m
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
13
11
19
21
17
23
22
18
15
16
15
12
11
11
11
11
10
12
12
10
Feels °C
10
9
17
19
15
18
19
15
13
12
11
4
3
4
5
6
6
9
9
7
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Bells Beach - Bowl Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Bells Beach - Bowl provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bells Beach - Bowl can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bells Beach - Bowl 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 (Bells Beach - Bowl) 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 Bells Beach - Bowl 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.

Bells Beach - Bowl is 26 km (16 miles) from the city of Geelong. If you plan a holiday in Torquay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Geelong. Geelong has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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