Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next few weeks for our patch. We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell on the way, but you’ll have to be a bit selective with the winds. The real standout window is later in the period, with some long-period gems that’ll have the bowl at Bells looking its best.

We’ve got a gap of no decent surf right at the start, but it kicks off on Thursday the 23rd of July. That morning, a big 11.5 ft SW swell (with a combined energy of 6859) is pushing in from the southwest, but there’s a moderate cross-off breeze. The Bowl is exposed to that swell, and with a 14-second period, there’s plenty of grunt, but the wind will be making it a bit fighty. Thursday afternoon gets even bigger to 13.1 ft SW (energy 7834), still with a cross-off wind – it’s going to be powerful and for advanced surfers only.

Friday the 24th sees the swell dip a little but still solid. The morning has 8.2 ft from the SSW (energy 3766) with cross-off wind, but the real pick is Friday afternoon: 13.1 ft SW (energy 8240) and a lighter cross-off. That’s a heavy day, but the bowl will be sucking up those 14-second lines. Only for the experienced crew.

Saturday the 25th is smaller in the morning at 6.9 ft SSW (energy 1394), but it cleans up in the afternoon with clear skies and a 9.8 ft SW swell (energy 3962). Still cross-off, so not perfect but workable.

Sunday the 26th is where we get a bit of a lull – the morning drops to 3.9 ft (energy 346) and the afternoon, while it goes glassy with light offshore wind from the WNW, only has 3.6 ft of swell. Clean but tiny.

Monday the 27th has a fresh 18.6 mph offshore from the NW in the morning, but the swell is only 3.3 ft (energy 284) – clean but not doing much. The afternoon has light rain and a 3.6 ft SW swell (energy 403), still small.

Tuesday the 28th shows the swell slowly building again. Morning is 4.6 ft SW (energy 858) with cross-off wind, and the afternoon gets to 5.6 ft SSW (energy 1424) with a longer 16-second period. It’s building.

Wednesday the 29th is a write-off. A solid 11.5 ft SSW swell (energy 4407) but it’s blowing cross-onshore from the south at 12.4 mph, making it choppy and poor. Not worth the paddle.

Thursday the 30th is better but still not great. A light cross-onshore breeze with 5.9 ft SSW swell (energy 1094), but the wind is from the ESE, so it’s messy enough to keep the quality low.

Friday the 31st is a sneaky little gem. The morning has 3.0 ft SSW swell (energy 222) with a light cross-off breeze, clean. But the afternoon – glassy with zero wind and 3.0 ft SSW swell (energy 304) – that’s the kind of clean, small, long-period wave where the bowl can be super fun on a log or a mid-length.

Now, here’s the best run of the outlook, starting Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has 4.6 ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period (energy 885) and a gentle offshore from the WNW. That’s clean, lined up, and has proper push. The afternoon holds steady at 4.3 ft SW (energy 804) with light cross-off. Beautiful.

Sunday the 2nd of August keeps it going. The morning sees 3.9 ft SW (energy 712) with that same gentle offshore. Perfect for a session at the Bowl.

Monday the 3rd of August is another stunner. Morning with 3.6 ft SW (energy 671) and offshore from the NNW. The afternoon is even cleaner with a 3.9 ft SW (energy 665) and a light offshore from the NW. These long-period 14 to 15-second swells are pure groundswell, and at Bells, they’ll wrap around the point and bowl up nicely.

Tuesday the 4th of August is a bit breezier, with a moderate cross-off and 3.9 ft SSW swell (energy 472). Still clean, but less exciting.

Wednesday the 5th is back to good form. The afternoon has 3.9 ft SW (energy 813) with a light cross-off breeze – clean and inviting.

And then the real standout for the experienced crew arrives on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning has 4.6 ft SW swell with a 16-second period (energy 1487) and a gentle cross-off. That is excellent surf for those who know the bowl. The afternoon goes glassy with a 4

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