Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 10 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.5° C
0.5° 

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 10 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,169 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 11th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 15s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 12th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 17s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 12th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

The pattern is building toward a serious pulse of south-west groundswell this week, but the early days are the real standout. Monday morning at Bells Beach – Bowl is the pick of the whole run. We’ve got a clean 4ft SW swell rolling in with a 19-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell, meaning well-shaped waves with plenty of energy between sets. Winds are light offshore from the NW, pretty much glassy. The water temp is 56°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. The combined swell energy is strong at 1026. For experienced surfers, this is excellent.

Monday afternoon the wind swings and gets fresh from the SW at 19 mph, turning it cross-shore and lumpy. That session is cooked.

Tuesday keeps the clean offshore flow from the NW and NNW, waves holding around 3 to 4ft with that long 15-second period. It’s moderate in size but still clean. Good windows Tuesday morning and afternoon.

Wednesday and Thursday see the swell building to 5ft and then 7ft, both days with a 16-second period. Winds are cross-offshore, keeping things reasonably clean, but the energy jumps up – Wednesday afternoon has combined energy of 1636 and Thursday morning hits 2186. It’s getting stronger, but conditions are described as marginal, possibly a tide issue. Not the best shaped, but still surfable for experienced crew.

Friday morning is the biggest of the run: 8ft from the SSW with a 17-second period. That’s proper size – expert-level only. Combined energy is 3876, very strong. Light offshore and cross-off winds keep it clean. This is the second standout for those who can handle it.

Saturday through Tuesday next week the swell drops back into the 3ft to 5ft range and the wind gets messy – cross-on or cross-shore, choppy. Not worth paddling out for.

There is a gap of several days from around Thursday 20th through to Saturday 22nd where the swell drops to 1ft to 2ft – that’s flat, not worth a look.

Then on Sunday 23rd, we see a new SW groundswell arriving at 5ft with a 17-second period. Offshore NW wind in the morning, combined energy 1448. That’s another clean, quality window for experienced surfers.

After that it drops back down and gets onshore, finishing the run with sloppy conditions.

So two true standouts: Monday morning the 10th for the clean, long-period start, and Friday morning the 14th for the big, powerful swell. Best for experienced surfers, both at Bells Beach – Bowl.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
0
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
5
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SW
19
1.2
SW
17
1.1
SW
16
1
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
1.2
SW
16
1.6
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.9
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
2.2
SSW
15
2.5
SSW
17
2.2
SSW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.7
SW
15
1.7
SSW
15
1.5
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.2
SW
14
1
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1026
861
553
418
472
795
1330
1591
1737
2146
2093
2348
3744
2567
1531
1306
1206
940
742
589
390
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
30
SW
20
W
20
NW
20
NNW
30
NNW
35
WSW
20
W
15
WNW
20
WNW
15
WSW
15
WNW
15
W
15
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
15
S
10
SE
15
E
10
SE
15
ESE
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
7:06PM1.62m
9:32AM1.68m
8:25PM1.55m
10:50AM1.72m
9:59PM1.54m
11:54AM1.79m
11:28PM1.60m
12:46PM1.87m
00:40AM1.71m
1:30PM1.93m
1:40AM1.81m
2:09PM1.97m
2:32AM1.88m
Low Tide
1:45PM1.02m
2:14AM0.21m
3:11PM1.05m
3:33AM0.25m
4:42PM0.98m
4:51AM0.25m
5:55PM0.82m
6:01AM0.25m
6:53PM0.63m
7:00AM0.25m
7:41PM0.44m
7:51AM0.28m
8:24PM0.29m
mod rain
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:11
7:09
7:09
7:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:40
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
 mm
7
1
Temp °C
13
13
12
12
12
11
12
13
10
14
15
13
14
13
12
12
12
12
12
13
12
Feels °C
7
7
8
7
7
5
5
8
6
10
11
9
10
9
9
8
8
10
10
11
9
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • 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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