Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 4,575 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with ya – this 16-day window for the Bells Beach – Bowl is a real mixed bag. There’s some serious size coming through, but a lot of it is wrapped up in tricky winds or questionable conditions. If you’re a confident charger, you’ve got a couple of clear windows, but for the average punter, it’s going to be a waiting game. The water temp is sitting at 56.3°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
We start off on Thursday the 20th with tiny leftovers. A 1.3ft to 2.0ft SW swell with an 18-second period is just slinking in, but the wind is NW offshore and the wave energy is moderate (128 to 167). It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s pretty ordinary. You’d be desperate for a paddle.
Friday the 21st is a step up in energy. The morning is cross-off with a 2.6ft SW swell at 15 seconds, and the wave energy is building (344). It’s clean but marginal. The afternoon is the real pick of this first patch: a 2.0ft SW swell, 18-second period, and the wind goes offshore NW at 12 mph. The wave energy is solid (374) and the conditions are moderate offshore and clean. It’s a soft, clean day for a log or a fish.
Then Saturday the 22nd is where things get serious. The morning brings a 5.2ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-off W at 12 mph and the energy is strong (1191). The afternoon is big: a 9.8ft SW swell with energy through the roof (5499). The wind is cross-off WSW at 12 mph. This is well into expert territory – too big for beginners and likely messy. If you’re a charger with a gun, you might find some, but it’s not clean.
Sunday the 23rd is the first real standout. The morning has a 4.6ft SW swell, 14-second period, and glorious WNW offshore wind at 9 mph. The wave energy is strong (1142). It’s clean, gentle offshore, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That carries through to the afternoon with a 4.6ft SW swell, 16-second period, and still offshore WNW at 9 mph. Energy is up to 1468. This is a solid, clean day for the Bowl. The point will be working, and the sets will have some punch.
Monday the 24th drops back to a 3.6ft SW swell with morning offshore NW at 12 mph and moderate energy (476). It’s good, but not a standout. The afternoon turns cross-off and gets a bit messy, dropping in quality.
Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are forgettable, with lighter swells, cross-shore winds, and choppy conditions. Poor surf.
Thursday the 27th picks up again with a 2.6ft SW swell, 11-second period, and clear offshore NW at 9 mph. It’s clean and gentle, with moderate energy (223 to 489 in the afternoon). A nice, small recovery day.
Now for the second standout: Friday the 28th of August. The morning is a beauty. A 4.6ft SW swell, 17-second period – that’s a proper groundswell – with a NNE light breeze at 6 mph, cross-off and clean. The wave energy is strong (1174). The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. The long period will have the Bowl linking up nicely, though keep in mind that long-period swells can be a bit straight at a beach setup, but at a reef and point like Bells, it’s a dream. This is the one to circle. The afternoon gets cross-on and messier, so bank the morning.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are poor, with fresh winds and a messy 2.0ft to 4.3ft SE swell of short period (7 seconds). Not worth the drive.
Monday the 31st of August brings a solid 3.3ft SW swell, 15 to 16-second period, and the afternoon turns glassy with NNW at 3 mph. The wave energy is solid (692 to 574). This is a ripper little session – glassy, clean, and consistent.
From Tuesday the 1st of September onward, the forecast tails off. Swell drops to 1.0ft to 2.6ft, winds are cross or onshore, and the energy is weak (48 to 136). A few sessions are surfable but very ordinary. By Friday the 4th of September, the swell is 1.0ft with an incredibly long 20-second period, but it’s a whisper. The 7-second SE crunch on the 30th of August is the only notable poor windswell.
So, the best on offer? That Sunday the 23rd of August and the Friday morning the 28th of August are your standouts. Both offer clean, offshore conditions with punchy SW groundswell and strong energy. The Saturday the 22nd has the size but not the cleanness. The glassy Monday the 31st
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 78 | 163 | 163 | 273 | 194 | 844 | 1164 | 4401 | 1237 | 776 | 1001 | 349 | 476 | 456 | 424 | 486 | 382 | 285 | 184 | 123 | 182 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:21PM1.80m | 5:20AM1.75m | 4:50PM1.71m | 6:00AM1.66m | 5:19PM1.62m | 6:47AM1.56m | 5:50PM1.52m | 7:46AM1.48m | 6:27PM1.43m | 9:06AM1.44m | 7:25PM1.34m | 10:33AM1.47m | 9:05PM1.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:31AM0.63m | 10:50PM0.22m | 11:06AM0.74m | 11:24PM0.30m | 11:40AM0.86m | 00:01AM0.39m | 12:19PM0.97m | 00:44AM0.47m | 1:11PM1.07m | 1:38AM0.55m | 2:36PM1.14m | 2:51AM0.60m | 4:31PM1.11m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 50 | 163 | 163 | 273 | 167 | 844 | 1164 | 1048 | 1237 | 776 | 1001 | 247 | 476 | 456 | 424 | 486 | 382 | 183 | 184 | 123 | 182 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 18 | S 18 | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 78 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 194 | 6 | 22 | 45 | 186 | 366 | 448 | 349 | — | 15 | 12 | 75 | 161 | 285 | 164 | 111 | 67 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | E 6 | SW 20 | SW 6 | — | S 16 | S 16 | — | — | S 15 | — | — | — | S 14 | — | SW 12 | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 13 | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | 37 | — | 73 | — | 13 | 13 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NW 2 | NW 2 | WNW 2 | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | NW 2 | N 2 | NW 3 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | WNW 2 | — | NNW 2 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 4401 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 9 | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 70 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest