Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 7,199 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about the Bells stretch of coast. The start of the week is a bit of a dud – Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd, swell is tiny, maybe 2 to 3 feet out of the SW. The wind is offshore, but the wave energy is weak (142 to 274). You could paddle out, but you’d be waiting a long time for a proper wave.
Then, Thursday the 23rd, the ocean wakes up. Boom – 12 feet of SW swell with a 14-second period. The energy is massive (7034). The wind is a cross-offshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s clean. This is for experts only. If you’re not confident in big, powerful surf, stay on the sand.
Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th keep the size up, with 8 to 12 feet of SSW and SW swell. The energy stays very high (2444 to 5999). The wind is still cross-off. It’s going to be a battle, but a rewarding one for the right crew. The water is about average for the season.
The true standout is the weekend of Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August. Saturday morning, Bells Beach – Bowl is showing a clean 5 foot SSW swell with a gentle offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (607) and the period is a solid 11 seconds. It’s clean, it’s fun, and it’s not too big. Then Sunday the 2nd morning is even better: 5 foot SW swell, 12-second period, light offshore, and a combined energy of 1393. That’s your best bet. The waves will be well-shaped, and while the crowds will be there, it’s worth it.
For the big-wave crew, Thursday the 30th of July has a 10 foot SSW swell with a 13-second period and a light cross-off wind. The energy is huge (4977). It’s a clean, powerful day for those who are up for it.
The forecast runs out of steam after the 2nd of August, with the swell dropping below 3 feet and the wind turning onshore, so get your sessions in on that first weekend of August.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Fri morning, light winds from the W by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 109 | 161 | 107 | 134 | 269 | 246 | 108 | 144 | 144 | 2738 | 5212 | 2925 | 6221 | 2791 | 2444 | 6749 | 4277 | 3214 | 702 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:35AM1.82m | 3:51PM1.99m | 4:25AM1.80m | 4:26PM1.92m | 5:13AM1.75m | 4:59PM1.82m | 6:00AM1.69m | 5:30PM1.72m | 6:48AM1.62m | 6:02PM1.61m | 7:41AM1.55m | 6:37PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:36AM0.34m | 10:13PM0.24m | 10:20AM0.48m | 10:53PM0.23m | 11:01AM0.63m | 11:32PM0.26m | 11:41AM0.76m | 00:10AM0.32m | 12:23PM0.89m | 00:50AM0.38m | 1:11PM1.00m | 1:35AM0.44m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 64 | 161 | 107 | 134 | 269 | 246 | 108 | 144 | 144 | 706 | 1785 | 1626 | 2205 | 2791 | 2444 | 2546 | 1722 | 1309 | 702 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 10 | W 12 | SSW 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 18 | — | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 109 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 34 | 130 | 339 | 37 | 216 | — | 377 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | S 16 | SSW 10 | E 11 | — | — | E 11 | SW 4 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 14 | 5 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | — | NW 4 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | — |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2738 | 5212 | 2925 | 6221 | — | 9 | 6749 | 4277 | 3214 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 520 | 6 | 32 | 32 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
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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