Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 19s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 3,027 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period with SW 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period. 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 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Bells Beach over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but the first few days are where you want to be paying attention. Tuesday morning the 25th of August is looking unreal – glassy conditions with a light NNW breeze and a clean 4 ft SW groundswell, period a solid 13 seconds. The energy’s sitting at 509 (moderate wave energy) and the water’s 56 °F, which is pretty much average for this time of year. That’s the standout for the early part of the forecast. Tuesday afternoon stays okay but picks up a light cross-shore breeze, so morning is definitely the call there.
Wednesday the 26th gets a bit messy with a cross-shore breeze and some chop, so I’d give it a miss. Thursday morning the 27th sees the wind swing WNW offshore, dropping the swell to 3 ft but it’ll be clean. Thursday afternoon turns glassy with a 2 ft SSW groundswell – small but tidy. Friday the 28th has a bigger, longer period SW groundswell – 18 seconds – but the wind is cross and then cross-on, so it’s not as clean. The energy ramps up to 767 (moderate to strong) but the quality’s not there.
Saturday morning the 29th is clean again with a 3 ft SW groundswell and light cross-off wind – nice little session. Then Sunday morning the 30th of August is another beauty – glassy, 4 ft SSW groundswell at 14 seconds, energy at 995 (moderate to strong). That’s a ripper. Sunday afternoon spikes to 7 ft with a 19-second period, but the wind goes cross-on and the energy jumps to 4129 (very strong), so that’s more for experienced crew only.
Monday the 31st is excellent for advanced surfers – 6 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and gentle offshore NW wind. Clean, solid, and holding. Energy’s around 1322 to 1699 (strong). That’s another standout window. Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell dropping but still manageable, though the wind picks up to 19 mph offshore, so it’s a bit fresh.
Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is glassy again with a 5 ft SW groundswell at 14 seconds – clean fun. Thursday the 3rd has bigger swell, 5 ft SSW with 15-second period, but the wind is cross-off and moderate, so still rideable. Friday the 4th of September morning picks up a 6 ft SW swell with a shorter 9-second period, but it’s clean with light wind – good for experienced surfers. Friday afternoon turns glassy again with a 3 ft SW groundswell.
Saturday the 5th holds 6 ft SSW groundswell at 18 seconds – long period, so it’ll be better at the point than the beach. Wind is cross-off, so it’s clean but moderate. That goes into Sunday the 6th, which drops off and gets choppy with cross and cross-on wind. Monday the 7th is clean but small.
Then things get interesting again early in the second week – Tuesday the 8th of September morning sees a massive 13 ft SW groundswell, 15-second period, energy at 9232 (very strong). That’s a big, powerful ocean. Wind is cross-off fresh, so it’s clean but only for experienced surfers. Wednesday the 9th holds at 8 ft to 16 ft SW – the afternoon skyrockets to 16 ft with energy at 12142 (very strong). That’s expert-only territory. Bells will be absolutely thumping, but you’ll want to pick your moment. Crowds are possible here sometimes, and it’s a reef and point setup that loves SW groundswell.
Overall, the standout mornings to lock in are Tuesday 25th August glassy session, Sunday 30th August glassy session, and the Monday 31st offshore clean swell. The long-range stuff in the second week is promising but less certain, though the size is undeniable. For most of us, the first two weeks deliver the best clean windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
509 | 418 | 255 | 245 | 528 | 134 | 133 | 86 | 234 | 442 | 929 | 813 | 412 | 407 | 304 | 612 | 2897 | 2611 | 1631 | 1322 | 795 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:25PM1.34m | 10:33AM1.47m | 9:05PM1.28m | 11:36AM1.55m | 10:46PM1.32m | 12:19PM1.63m | 11:57PM1.42m | 12:53PM1.70m | 00:50AM1.55m | 1:23PM1.76m | 1:34AM1.69m | 1:52PM1.81m | 2:14AM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:36PM1.14m | 2:51AM0.60m | 4:31PM1.11m | 4:11AM0.61m | 5:46PM1.00m | 5:20AM0.57m | 6:30PM0.86m | 6:15AM0.52m | 7:03PM0.71m | 7:00AM0.47m | 7:34PM0.55m | 7:40AM0.45m | 8:04PM0.40m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
— | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | — | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 |
509 | 418 | 166 | 167 | — | 123 | 133 | 86 | 147 | 321 | 929 | 813 | 412 | 407 | 304 | 612 | 2897 | 2611 | 1631 | 1322 | 795 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | — | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 9 | SW 18 | SE 10 | S 16 | S 15 | S 24 | SW 22 | SSW 20 | SW 13 | S 15 | S 15 | — | — |
2 | 129 | 255 | 13 | — | 134 | 54 | 70 | 39 | 442 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 256 | 846 | 229 | 68 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | SW 16 | WSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | S 16 | S 17 | — | — | — | — |
4 | 1 | — | — | — | 41 | 15 | 71 | 234 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 127 | 386 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
— | — | 34 | 245 | 528 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 11 | 32 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











