Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been looking through the numbers for Bells Beach-Bowl (Victoria). We’ve got a solid run of winter surf ahead, with proper groundswell and plenty of clean windows if you’re smart about it. The water temp is 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit.

There’s a bit of a wait to start. Nothing much happens until Tuesday the 7th of July. That Tuesday morning is your first real go – dawn patrol. Light offshores from the ESE at 3 mph, glassy as glass, and a clean 4 ft SW groundswell rolling in with a very long 17-second period. The energy is moderate (677) – not huge, but with the glass and that long period, Bells Bowl will have some proper shape. It’s an advanced wave, and crowds are possible, so be early.

Tuesday afternoon sees the wind shift to the SE at 6 mph and it gets onshore, so it drops off. Wednesday the 8th has more size – 4 ft in the morning, 5 ft in the afternoon, still with a killer 18-second period and strong energy (1294 to 1447). But the wind is cross or cross-onshore, so it’s a bit rough. Rideable, not the pick.

Thursday the 9th is back to glassy in the morning – dead calm, with a 3 ft swell (16 seconds) and weak energy (476). Small but clean. Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th stay clean with offshore winds (NNW and NW), but the swell is tiny – 2 ft to 3 ft. Fun but nothing to write home about.

Sunday the 12th starts to push – 5 ft in the morning, 4 ft in the afternoon, with a 12- to 14-second period. The energy is up (570 to 1024) and it’s clean with fresh offshore winds, so you can get waves, but not the standout.

Now, Monday the 13th of July – this is the one for the experts. Swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW with a long 16-second period and very strong energy (3692). It’s clean with a cross-off breeze. At 8 ft, this is expert-only – way too big for beginners. The power is serious.

Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th keep the swell at 5 ft to 6 ft with clean conditions, but the wind picks up a bit. Still good waves.

Thursday the 16th to Sunday the 19th has a mix of smaller, clean days with 2 ft to 3 ft swells and offshore winds. Energy drops to the low hundreds by Saturday morning. Nothing huge, but you’ll find a wave.

Then the big one. Around Monday the 20th, the swell starts building again. Tuesday the 21st afternoon and especially Wednesday the 22nd of July could be a monster. Wednesday morning shows a 13 ft SW swell with a 15-second period and extreme energy (10701). Wednesday afternoon drops to 10 ft but is still massive (7659). Cross-off winds (WNW to W) should keep it clean. This is six days out, so there’s some uncertainty, but if it hits, that Wednesday morning session will be unforgettable. Only for experts.

Best bets? Tuesday the 7th morning for that glassy, long-period perfection. Monday the 13th for pure power and size, experts only. And keep an eye on Wednesday the 22nd – it could be the real standout.

Rusty.

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