Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks. For the first few days, it’s pretty quiet, but don’t write it off – there’s a solid pulse of swell coming in that’ll get the blood pumping. We’ve got a gap of a couple of days with nothing worth paddling out for, but after that, it’s game on.

We start off Monday, July 20th, with a bit of a letdown. Bells Beach – Bowl (that reef and point setup) has some tiny 1.6–2 ft SW groundswell, with a 15–16 second period, so it’s long and juicy, but the wave energy is weak (191 in the morning, 131 in the arvo). The wind is clean, cross-off to offshore, but the swell is just too small to get excited about. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s a skunk session.

Tuesday, July 21st, things start to brighten up. The swell bumps to 2.6–3 ft from the SW, still with a solid 13–14 second period. The energy ramps up to moderate (317 and 208), and we’ve got gentle offshore NW winds both morning and arvo. The waves are clean, and the bowl will be offering a few more shoulders to work with. It’s not a standout, but it’s a good sign.

Then Wednesday, July 22nd, the wind picks up a bit. The morning is offshore with a WNW breeze at 15 mph, but the swell is only 2.3 ft. The arvo gets interesting though – a 4.6 ft SW swell with a 10 second period, and the energy jumps to 668 (moderate). The wind shifts to a cross-off W breeze, so it’s clean, but the shorter period means it’s a bit lumpy. Not a classic, but it’s building.

Now, Thursday, July 23rd – this is where it gets proper. A solid 9.8–11.5 ft SW groundswell rolls in, with a 14 second period, and the energy is huge (7079 and 5120). This is big, powerful surf. The wind is a cross-off W to WSW at 12–18 mph, so it’s clean, but the swell is over 8 ft, so this is expert territory only. The bowl will be handling it, but it’s a beast. For the average punter, this is a day to watch from the cliffs.

Friday, July 24th, the swell drops a touch to 7.9–8.2 ft, swinging more to the SSW with a 15–16 second period. The energy is still very strong (3544 and 2669). The wind is offshore WNW in the arvo, so the waves will be clean and powerful. Still big, still for experts only.

Saturday, July 25th, the swell holds at 11.5 ft from the SW, with a 12–13 second period. The energy is massive (6152 and 4652). The cross-off W wind keeps it clean, but again, this is too big for anyone who isn’t dialled in. The bowl’s exposed reef and point will be pumping, but it’s a serious session.

Sunday, July 26th, we start to see the swell drop off. 3.6–4.3 ft SSW swell, 12 second period, with light offshore WNW winds in the arvo. The energy is moderate (464 and 320). It’s clean, and the bowl starts to become more accessible. A good day for a solid intermediate to get amongst it.

Monday, July 27th, is a real highlight. The swell is 4.6–5.2 ft from the SW, with a 11–12 second period, and the energy is moderate to strong (453 and 811). The morning is clear with a gentle offshore WNW breeze, and the arvo is even better – clear skies, NW offshore at 9 mph. The waves are clean, the bowl is offering up some nice lines. This is the pick of the first week: a proper sweet spot of size, wind, and

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