Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 5,771 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Bells Beach - Bowl. This is a reef and point setup, exposed to the SW, so when she lines up, it’s a proper wave. The water temp is sitting at 56°, which is about spot on for this time of year, no real anomaly to speak of. The whole 16-day window’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a couple of standout moments if you’re patient.
The first few days are pretty lacklustre. Thursday and Friday the 20th and 21st have small, clean swell but it’s nothing to write home about – just knee-to-waist high stuff with combined energy around 128 to 396 (moderate). It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it. The winds are offshore or cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the size is just too ordinary.
Then, Saturday the 22nd of August, things get serious. A solid pulse of SW groundswell rolls in, pushing 12 ft, with a period of 14 to 15 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 6526 to 7167 (very strong). This is a big, powerful swell for Bells. The wind is cross-offshore from the WSW, so it’ll be a bit raw, but the bowl will be working. This is for advanced surfers only – over 8 ft is expert territory. The crowd profile is “sometimes,” so expect a few locals out, but it won’t be a circus. This is the standout session of the whole outlook.
Sunday the 23rd cleans up nicely. The swell drops to a still-chunky 5 ft, but the wind goes light offshore from the WNW, with periods around 14 to 16 seconds. The combined energy is still strong at 1181 to 1563. This is a cracking morning and afternoon – clean, long-period groundswell, perfect for the point. This is the second pick for the week.
After that, the following week is a mix of small, clean surf and some average days. Monday the 24th has a modest 4 ft under offshore NW winds, but it’s nothing to get excited about. Tuesday the 25th turns ugly with cross and cross-onshore winds, so give that a miss.
Wednesday the 26th of August offers a little window: glassy conditions in the morning with a 3 ft SW swell, period 14 seconds. It’s small but clean as a whistle. The combined energy is 418 (moderate). Could be a fun dawny if you’re keen.
The first week of September is a mixed bag. There’s a gap from the 27th to the 3rd where the surf is small, period drops, and winds are unfavourable. Then on Friday the 4th of September, we get another solid pulse: 6 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, combined energy 1552 (strong). Offshore NW winds, moderate breeze. This is a promising one, but it’s a week and a half away, so not locked in yet. Keep an eye on it.
Overall, the best on offer is the big SW swell on Saturday the 22nd of August for the charger, and the clean, lined-up 5 ft on Sunday the 23rd for the ripper. The rest is small or average.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
78 | 163 | 163 | 273 | 194 | 854 | 5771 | 5156 | 1340 | 865 | 1115 | 791 | 476 | 456 | 424 | 754 | 348 | 754 | 238 | 306 | 347 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:21PM1.80m | 5:20AM1.75m | 4:50PM1.71m | 6:00AM1.66m | 5:19PM1.62m | 6:47AM1.56m | 5:50PM1.52m | 7:46AM1.48m | 6:27PM1.43m | 9:06AM1.44m | 7:25PM1.34m | 10:33AM1.47m | 9:05PM1.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:31AM0.63m | 10:50PM0.22m | 11:06AM0.74m | 11:24PM0.30m | 11:40AM0.86m | 00:01AM0.39m | 12:19PM0.97m | 00:44AM0.47m | 1:11PM1.07m | 1:38AM0.55m | 2:36PM1.14m | 2:51AM0.60m | 4:31PM1.11m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
50 | 163 | 163 | 273 | 167 | 854 | 1374 | 1325 | 1340 | 865 | 1115 | 791 | 476 | 456 | 424 | 754 | 341 | 754 | 180 | 306 | 347 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 18 | SW 9 | SW 24 | SSW 22 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | NNE 3 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | SW 14 | — | S 15 |
78 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 194 | 112 | 22 | 45 | 134 | 316 | 448 | — | 1 | 15 | 51 | 302 | 348 | — | 238 | — | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | E 6 | SW 20 | SW 6 | — | — | — | S 15 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 13 | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | — | NW 2 | WSW 7 | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | SW 15 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | 1 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 5771 | 5156 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 200 | 6 | 0 | 33 | 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.











