Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the coming days.

We've got a classic setup unfolding at Bells Beach - Bowl. A solid SW groundswell is on the way, and the opening of the period is a real standout. The early action kicks off on Friday, the 4th of September. The morning is looking prime with a clean 7.2ft SW swell pushing in with a long 16-second period, producing moderate wave energy (2357). The wind is a clean offshore from the NW, a gentle breeze, so the faces will be pure. This is a reef and point, so that long period is going to wrap in beautifully, offering up some proper lines. This is advanced territory at that size, so it's for the experienced crew only. It can get a bit crowded here sometimes, but early on a Friday might be your best bet. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The afternoon holds up well too, with the same swell dropping slightly to 6.9ft and the wind staying offshore. Saturday the 5th, the wind picks up strong out of the NW, making it a battle to paddle into, but the 5.2ft SW swell is still in the water. The quality drops right off after that until Sunday the 6th. That morning is a real standout. The swell jumps back up to a solid 9.8ft from the SW, with a 14-second period and very strong wave energy (4032). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. That's a big one for the Bowl, so it's for the experts only. The afternoon sees the swell drop and the wind go cross, so the window is tight.

The following week eases off. A few smaller days with clean conditions, like Monday the 7th (2.6ft) and a real glassy morning on Tuesday the 8th with a 4.6ft SSW groundswell that has a very long 18-second period, producing strong energy (2247). That glassy surface is a huge positive, but the long period might make it a bit straighter on the Bowl's bank. The wind changes on the 9th, bringing side-onshore winds and a building swell, which makes the ocean look lumpy. By Wednesday the 9th afternoon, the swell hits 9.8ft, but with a fresh cross-onshore, it's a messy, blown-out affair.

The second week has a few moments. Tuesday the 15th sees a fresh offshore wind with a 9.8ft SW swell, but the period is a shorter 11 seconds, so it might be a bit lumpy. The real standout for the second week is Wednesday the 16th. The morning has a clean 5.2ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, gentle offshore wind, and excellent conditions. The energy is moderate (1670). That's a gem in the middle of the week. We finish with a monster on Thursday the 17th of September, with an 18ft SW swell, but that's way too big for the break, even for the diehards. The 18th and 19th see the swell drop back, but the wind is still messy.

If you're looking for the best of the best, lock in the Friday the 4th morning and the Sunday the 6th morning. The Tuesday the 8th morning has that glassy appeal, and the Wednesday the 16th is a solid long-range promise.

Read more