Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.6° 

Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SW swell with 1,945 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 2.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM. 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 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 24th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 26th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 14s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 26th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for this stretch of coast.

We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead, starting from Monday morning. The opening session on Monday the 24th of August is looking like a real treat for the crew at Bells Beach - Bowl. We’re seeing a clean 4ft SSW groundswell, with a nice long period of 14 seconds – that’s real energy moving through the water. The combined energy is sitting at a moderate 554, and with a gentle cross-offshore breeze, the face will be a smooth canvas. This is a top pick for the early part of the week; it’s got that classic Bells shape and the wind is right in the pocket. The water temperature is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing outside the usual range.

That afternoon the swell drops a touch to 3ft, but it’s still clean. Tuesday looks a bit more mixed with some light rain and a cross-shore wind, so the quality drops off a notch. Wednesday morning brings a cleaner 3ft SSW swell, but the wind swings later in the day and gets a bit chunky, so get your session in early.

Thursday the 27th is a real gem. Morning has a clean 3ft with offshore winds, and then Thursday afternoon goes glassy – a dead flat sea with a tiny 2ft swell. If you can get out there, it’ll be like a mirror.

Friday the 28th kicks off with a punchy 4ft south-west swell, and the period jumps to a very long 18 seconds. That’s pure groundswell, folks. The combined energy is a solid 802 (moderate). It’s clean with a cross-off breeze, making it another standout for the week. That long period will make the sets stand up nicely at the point, but don’t expect a churning closeout – it’ll be a more patient, powerful wave.

Saturday morning the 29th is glassy again with a 3ft set, but the afternoon gets a bit of a cross-onshore bump. Sunday the 30th sees the swell size pick up, hitting 5ft in the afternoon with a 16-second period, though the wind is straight onshore, so it’ll be a bit of a battle.

Now, look ahead to Monday the 31st of August. That morning is a corker. Clean 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a light offshore breeze. The energy is pumping at 1173 (strong). This is the session for the experienced surfer – the power is there, and the line-up will be clean but demanding.

The pattern holds into early September. Tuesday the 1st has a clean 4ft morning with offshore winds. Wednesday the 2nd of September is the real beast of the run. The afternoon session shows a 4ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1478. With a light offshore wind, this is textbook expert territory. The swell direction is bang on from the optimum SW, so Bells will be handling it beautifully.

After that, the surf drops off into the first week of September. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are smaller, in the 2ft to 3ft range, with some rain showers and a bit of wind. It’s still surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Then we get a late burst. Saturday the 5th of September brings a clean 5ft SW swell, 17-second period, and a strong energy of 1222. The offshore wind is moderate, so it’ll be a bit blustery but still clean. Sunday the 6th sees the swell push up to 6ft to 6ft, with a 15 to 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1465 and 1474, but the wind gets a bit messy and cross-offshore. That’s big, powerful water – only for the very experienced.

The final days of the outlook, Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of September, hold around 5ft to 6ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and strong, making it a choppy, challenging day. You’d want to be a local or a very solid paddler to enjoy that.

Bottom line: The standout sessions are Monday morning the 24th and Friday morning the 28th of August, and then the big clean days on Monday the 31st of August and Wednesday the 2nd of September. If you’ve got the skill, the 2nd of September afternoon is the pick of the whole 16 days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
12
1.1
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
0.8
SW
14
1
SSW
10
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.8
SSW
11
0.6
SSW
11
0.6
SW
20
1.1
SW
18
1.1
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
760
545
255
376
517
376
251
204
205
134
133
88
239
777
725
421
255
203
138
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
N
15
NNE
10
ENE
15
SW
15
WSW
15
WSW
20
SSW
10
WNW
10
NNW
5
NNW
10
NW
10
NNW
10
NE
5
NW
5
WNW
10
SSE
5
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
7:46AM1.48m
6:27PM1.43m
9:06AM1.44m
7:25PM1.34m
10:33AM1.47m
9:05PM1.28m
11:36AM1.55m
10:46PM1.32m
12:19PM1.63m
11:57PM1.42m
12:53PM1.70m
00:50AM1.55m
Low Tide
00:44AM0.47m
1:11PM1.07m
1:38AM0.55m
2:36PM1.14m
2:51AM0.60m
4:31PM1.11m
4:11AM0.61m
5:46PM1.00m
5:20AM0.57m
6:30PM0.86m
6:15AM0.52m
7:03PM0.71m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:57
 mm
8
6
2
Temp °C
13
16
17
13
12
12
12
13
12
10
13
15
12
15
16
14
16
15
13
Feels °C
10
13
14
11
11
10
8
9
7
8
11
13
10
13
13
12
13
12
12
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  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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