Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,009 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Mate, grab ya wettie and let's have a proper look at what's coming our way.
The pattern starts a bit ordinary but builds into something pretty special, especially at Bells Beach – Bowl (reef and point). The water temp is sitting at 56.3°F, which has a water temperature anomaly of 1.1°F, so it's about average for the time of year – nothing crazy there, just standard winter-cold water.
Wednesday the 26th is a write-off. We got a small 3.3ft swell from the SSW with a 12-second period, but the wind is swinging cross and the whole energy is weak at only 440, plus the wave comment says poor. Afternoon gets a bit more size at 4.3ft from the SW but the wind goes cross-on and chop ruins it. Don't bother paddling out Wednesday.
Thursday the 27th is where it starts to turn. Morning brings a little 2.6ft SSW swell, period 11 seconds, but the wind goes offshore from the NW at 10 km/h, and the wave comment says expect good surf. The combined energy is 202, so still weak but clean. Afternoon glassy with winds at 5 km/h and a 2.0ft swell, wave comment expects good surf. These are small but clean little windows.
Friday the 28th gets interesting. Morning has a 2.6ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period and the combined energy jumps to 719 – moderate now. Wind is cross-off from the west at 15 km/h, wave comment says marginal but it’s clean. That long period will make the waves powerful but at a point break like Bells, that’s actually good; they'll reel nicely. Afternoon brings rain showers and a 3.6ft SW swell with 17-second period, energy 729, but wind goes cross, creating a bit of ripple. Still, that long-period groundswell is a sign of proper energy.
Saturday the 29th: morning is 3.3ft SW, 14 seconds, cross-off wind, clean, good surf. Afternoon jumps to 6.6ft SW from the same direction, 14 seconds, combined energy 2022 – that's strong energy. But wind goes cross-on from the south at 15 km/h and it gets choppy, so the window is the morning.
Now, here’s the standout – Sunday the 30th morning. 4.6ft SSW swell, 13-second period, combined energy 795 (moderate), and the wind goes offshore from the NW at 5 km/h. The wave comment says expect very good surf conditions. That’s proper clean Bells.
Monday the 31st is the absolute standout of the whole run. Morning: 4.9ft SSW, 14-second period, energy hits 1007 (strong), wind is cross-off from the north at 10 km/h, wave comment says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Afternoon gets even better: 4.9ft SSW, 16-second period, energy 1922, and offshore wind from the NNW at only 5 km/h. Glassy, clean, long-period groundswell pounding into that reef. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but this is the session to chase. The swell direction from the SSW matches the optimum SW for Bells nicely.
Tuesday September 1st is a step down. Morning gets a 3.9ft SW swell, 16 seconds, and clean offshore wind from the NW at 30 km/h, but that’s a fresh breeze; wave comment says marginal. Afternoon drops to 3.3ft.
Wednesday September 2nd morning: 3.6ft SW, 15 seconds, moderate offshore wind from the WNW, very good surf conditions. Afternoon smaller.
Thursday September 3rd: 4.9ft SW, 16 seconds, clean offshore at 25 km/h – still moderate offshore, marginal wave comment but it's clean. Afternoon bumps to 5.6ft.
Friday September 4th: this one’s for experts only. Morning swell hits 7.9ft from the SW, 18-second period, combined energy 3777 – very strong. Wind is light cross, wave comment marginal. Afternoon: 8.2ft SW, 18 seconds, energy 4523, cross-on. This is massive, powerful, and over 8.2ft – only for advanced surfers. The long period will make it even more critical at the reef.
Saturday September 5th: nice drop back. Morning 6.2ft SSW, 16 seconds, offshore NW wind at 20 km/h, energy 1811, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Afternoon 5.6ft, same direction, clean offshore. Solid but not crazy.
Sunday September 6th and Monday September 7th: consistent 3.9ft SW swell, 13-14 seconds, clean offshore winds, good to very good conditions. Nice run
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. 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 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 260 | 673 | 134 | 133 | 88 | 184 | 442 | 812 | 644 | 412 | 1811 | 335 | 606 | 734 | 1087 | 1028 | 672 | 1115 | 711 | 447 | 3009 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 2:20PM1.83m | 2:52AM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:17AM0.45m | 8:34PM0.26m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 260 | 673 | 123 | 133 | 88 | 184 | 273 | 812 | 644 | 412 | 407 | 335 | 606 | 734 | 1087 | 1028 | 672 | 1115 | 711 | 447 | 757 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | — | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SE 10 | SE 16 | S 15 | S 24 | WSW 13 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | S 17 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | S 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 167 | — | 134 | 54 | 69 | 184 | 442 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 60 | 39 | 140 | 136 | 444 | 765 | — | 19 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | SW 16 | WSW 12 | SW 21 | SSW 10 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | SSW 22 | S 14 | — | — | S 15 | S 14 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | — | 41 | 15 | 71 | 31 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 45 | 37 | — | — | 40 | 34 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 4 | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | 528 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1811 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 18 | 3009 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 524 | 32 | 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.
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