Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with 2,264 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this Bells stretch for a while now. Let me tell you what’s brewing.
The overall pattern is promising. We’re looking at a run of solid SW groundswell backed by mostly offshore to cross-off winds, and the water temp is sitting around 56.3°F, which is about average for this time of year. The real standout is the Monday the 10th of September and then the following Saturday, the 12th of September – those are the ones I’d be circling on the calendar.
Friday, 28 August kicks things off. Early morning at Bells Beach – Bowl (Victoria) – there’s a clean 2.6 ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 18 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (681). The wind is a light WNW cross-off, so it’ll be glassy and clean. It’s a good start, but the swell is small. The afternoon turns cross-on with the wind swinging SSW, and the tide might mess with the shape – I’d get out early.
Saturday, 29 August – morning again looks clean with a 3.6 ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, and a light WNW cross-off. The energy is moderate (466). By afternoon the wind shifts south and comes onshore, making things choppy and messy. Get it in the morning.
Sunday, 30 August – similar story. A clean 4.6 ft SSW swell (13 seconds) early with a light westerly cross-off. Energy is moderate (758). The afternoon gets cross-on and messy again. Morning is your window.
Monday, 31 August – this is a nice day. The swell is 4.6 ft from the SW, with a period of 15 seconds, and the morning has a light NNW offshore wind. The energy is strong (1070). The water is still that average 56.3°F. The afternoon turns glassy with an ESE breeze – flat calm, clean lines. This is a standout session for experienced surfers. The Bowl is a reef and point, so that long-period groundswell will set up nicely.
Tuesday, 1 September – a moderate 15.5 mph NNW offshore wind keeps the 4.6 ft SW swell (16 seconds) clean in the morning. Energy is moderate (931). The wind stays offshore in the afternoon, though it’s a bit stronger at 15.5 mph. Good waves, but the wind is working.
Wednesday, 2 September – the morning offers a 4.3 ft SW swell (15 seconds) with a light WNW cross-off. Clean. The afternoon turns cross-shore and a little choppy. Morning is the pick.
Thursday, 3 September – morning has a 4.6 ft SW swell (15 seconds) with a fresh 12.4 mph NW offshore. Clean and powerful. The afternoon gets stronger offshore wind (18.6 mph) which might be a bit too fresh, but it’s still offshore. The swell is consistent.
Friday, 4 September – the swell starts to build. The morning shows a 6.9 ft SW swell (14 seconds) with a WNW cross-off. Energy is strong (1657). The afternoon is the gem: a 7.5 ft SW swell (15 seconds) with a moderate 12.4 mph offshore wind. Energy is very strong (2264). This is excellent for experienced surfers – the Bowl will be handling that size well.
Saturday, 5 September – solid swell again. The morning has a 8.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 442 | 907 | 480 | 466 | 1811 | 465 | 659 | 768 | 895 | 869 | 881 | 1255 | 883 | 566 | 447 | 799 | 844 | 648 | 856 | 821 | 1203 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 2:48PM1.85m | 3:31AM1.96m | 3:17PM1.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:53AM0.47m | 9:06PM0.15m | 9:29AM0.52m | 9:40PM0.08m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | |  | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 442 | 907 | 480 | 466 | 469 | 465 | 659 | 768 | 895 | 869 | 881 | 1255 | 883 | 566 | 447 | 799 | 844 | 648 | 856 | 821 | 1203 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SE 10 | SSW 6 | — | E 9 | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 20 | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | — | SW 17 | — | S 16 | S 17 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 235 | 4 | 20 | — | 2 | 18 | 60 | 60 | — | 138 | 275 | 82 | 48 | — | 145 | — | 19 | 51 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | — | — | — | S 23 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | — | SSW 14 | S 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | — | — | — | 11 | 19 | 39 | 56 | — | 63 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 3 | — | — | — | WNW 2 | NW 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1811 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 6 |
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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