Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. Over the next 16 days, Bells is gonna be the main show, and it’s got a bit of everything—long-period groundswells, some clean windows, and a few sessions that’ll get the heart pumping.

We kick off on Saturday, August 8th, with a nice little 4 ft SW groundswell rolling in at 16 seconds—proper long-period energy. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The wind is a gentle NNE breeze, cross-off, so the surface is clean. The combined energy is moderate (567), and it’s feeling good. Not a standout, but a solid start.

Sunday morning’s got a bit of swell but a stiff 35 km/h NNE wind bowls it over—only 2 ft and 14 seconds, with poor surf conditions. Not worth paddling out.

Now, Monday, August 10th is where things get interesting. The morning brings a 4 ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period—that’s a very long period, so this is proper groundswell. The wind is offshore from the NW at 15 km/h, and the combined energy pumps up to 1026 (strong energy). The bowl is a reef and point setup, so that long period will wrap in beautifully. This is one of the true standouts—clean, powerful, and for the experienced crew. Expect excellent surf.

The rest of that week sees the swell hanging around, but winds get messy. Tuesday morning stays clean with a 3 ft SW swell and 15-second period, but the energy drops to 491 (moderate). Not a standout but a good session for the keen.

Wednesday, August 12th pushes the swell to 6 ft in the morning, jumping to 8 ft by the afternoon with a massive combined energy of 5231 (very strong). That’s expert territory. The wind is cross-off, but the size and power mean it’s only for those who know what they’re doing. The afternoon is marginal due to size and wind.

Thursday, August 13th and Friday, August 14th keep the swell solid at 7 ft and 8 ft, respectively, with 16-second periods. Winds are light and cross-off, so the surface stays clean. The energy is strong (2000+). These are excellent for experienced surfers, but not for beginners.

Saturday, August 15th sees the swell drop to 5 ft with a 15-second period and a light 5 km/h WSW wind, cross-off. The combined energy is 1040 (strong), and conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is another standout—clean, manageable size, and the bowl will be working.

Sunday, August 16th through to the end of the forecast period, the swell backs off a bit. Sunday has onshore SE winds, so not great. But Monday, August 17th brings a glassy 4 ft SW swell at 14 seconds—dead calm, 5 km/h NNE wind, glassy conditions. Combined energy is 540 (moderate). A lovely clean session for a low-key surf.

The rest of the week sees small, clean waves in the 2 ft to 4 ft range, with light winds and cross-off conditions. Nothing huge, but for a longboard or a funboard, there are plenty of clean, user-friendly waves. Crowds are possible at the Bowl, but it’s a consistent spot, so you’ll find a peak.

The very end of the window, Sunday, August 23rd, has a fresh 35 km/h NNW wind and 4 ft swell—poor surf conditions, so not worth the drive.

Overall, the standout sessions are Monday, August 10th morning and Saturday, August 15th morning. Both have clean, offshore winds, strong groundswell, and that classic Bells power. The rest of the window is a mix of solid size for the brave and small clean waves for the relaxed surfer.

Rusty

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