Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 24 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 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 2,287 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s 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 (Aug 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 19s. 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 1.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 31st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 18s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 31st Aug)6ft (1.9m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way, with the standout window centred around Monday the 31st of August and into Tuesday the 1st of September. Before that, there’s a mix of clean but smaller days and a few that’ll get blown out. Let’s walk through it.

Monday the 24th of August is a good, easy starter. Bells Beach – Bowl (reef and point) gets a clean 3 ft SSW swell, glassy with a period of 12 seconds. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year. Combined energy is moderate at 372. Nice little intro.

Tuesday the 25th gets a bit messy. Morning swell pushes to 4 ft SW, but it’s onshore ESE wind, and the outlook is marginal. Afternoon turns cross-shore from the SSW at 9 mph with 4 ft SW swell. Not worth paddling out for if you can wait.

Wednesday the 26th is a mixed bag. Morning has 3 ft SSW swell, clean enough with cross-offshore wind, but the swell’s a touch short at 10 seconds. Afternoon brings a bigger 5 ft SW swell (energy 1279), but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. If you’re a kite surfer, that afternoon might look more interesting than paddle surfing.

Thursday the 27th is a return to clean conditions. Morning has 3 ft SSW with offshore NW wind – glassy, clean. Afternoon drops to 2 ft but stays clean with light WNW offshore. Small but fun.

Friday the 28th morning is a highlight of the first week. Bells gets a 3 ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period. Clean with light cross-offshore wind. Energy is 666 – moderate – but the period makes those waves really line up on this reef and point break. Paddling out will be easier between sets. The afternoon turns onshore from the SE, so get in early.

Saturday the 29th morning is glassy again, 3 ft SW at 14 seconds. Clean as a whistle. Afternoon gets a light cross-onshore, still surfable but not as pristine.

Sunday the 30th starts glassy with 3 ft SW at 14 seconds. Nice. Afternoon picks up a longer-period 4 ft SSW at 15 seconds but gets light cross-onshore. Still workable.

The standout is Monday the 31st of August. Morning brings an excellent 6 ft SW groundswell with a long 17-second period. Offshore wind, clean as. Combined energy is strong at 2276. This is for experienced surfers – over 5 ft, so if you’re a beginner, give it a miss. Afternoon stays excellent at 6 ft SW, 16 seconds, still clean. This is the session to aim for.

Tuesday the 1st of September follows up strong. Morning has 4 ft SW at 15 seconds with moderate offshore NW wind at 16 mph, clean. Very good. Afternoon stays clean with 3 ft SW at 15 seconds, lighter offshore. Still quality.

Wednesday the 2nd sees the quality drop. Morning gets 4 ft SW at 15 seconds but with cross-shore wind creating ripples. Afternoon is cross-onshore and weak. Not worth it.

Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are poor. Thursday has 19 mph onshore winds with short-period 4 ft SSW at 8 seconds. Friday morning is choppy with only 1 ft SW, though Friday afternoon shows a bit of recovery with 4 ft SW at 15 seconds and light cross-onshore. Marginal.

Now for the second week. Saturday the 5th of September morning is another solid option. Bells gets 6 ft SW at 17 seconds, offshore wind, clean, and energy is strong at 1891. Again, for experienced surfers. Afternoon drops to 5 ft but gets a light cross-onshore – still okay if you’re keen.

Sunday the 6th is onshore and choppy, poor. Monday the 7th is blown out with 19 mph onshores and 6 ft to 7 ft SW – ugly.

Tuesday the 8th of September has a big 10 ft SW swell at 16 seconds, but it’s onshore and marginal. Combined energy is 3920 – very strong wave energy. Only for experts, and they’ll be battling the wind. Kite surfers might fancy this one.

So, the two true standouts are Monday the 31st of August morning and Saturday the 5th of September morning. Both offer clean, strong SW groundswell with long period and offshore wind. Get onto them.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
2
1
2
2
2
5
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
12
1.1
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
0.8
SW
15
1
SSW
10
1.6
SW
13
0.8
SSW
10
0.8
SSW
11
0.6
SSW
11
0.6
SW
19
0.8
SW
18
1.1
SW
17
1.1
SW
16
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.7
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
1.3
SSW
15
1.7
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
255
376
509
376
255
190
821
134
133
88
236
442
717
553
350
293
171
249
683
1901
Wind (km/h)
5
N
10
ENE
5
ESE
15
SSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
15
SSW
10
WNW
10
NW
5
WNW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
SE
5
S
5
WSW
10
SSE
5
WSW
5
WNW
10
SSE
5
NW
Wind State
glassy
cross
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
off
off
cross-off
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
High Tide
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
1:23PM1.76m
1:34AM1.69m
Low Tide
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
7:00AM0.47m
7:34PM0.55m
cloud
mod rain
mod rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:48
<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
5:58
 mm
10
6
Temp °C
17
14
12
13
12
13
13
10
13
15
13
14
12
12
14
14
11
14
14
12
Feels °C
16
12
11
11
9
9
9
8
11
13
10
11
10
12
12
12
10
12
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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