
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 5,353 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, grab your wettie, let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks at Bells Beach – Bowl. It’s a proper reef and point setup, exposed to the south-west, so when it’s on, it’s world-class. The water’s sitting at 57° which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no surprises there.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start. Saturday the 18th is actually looking all right to get out there. The Bowl will have a clean 3 ft swell from the SW, with a light offshore breeze in the morning, turning glassy by the arvo. The combined energy is moderate at 382, so there’s enough push to make it fun. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and workable.
Sunday the 19th drops right off – tiny 2 ft waves, and while it’s glassy in the afternoon, it’s pretty ordinary. Monday the 20th is similar, small and clean but nothing to get excited about. That run of small, clean conditions hangs around through Tuesday the 21st, which sees a little bump back up to 3 ft from the SW with a 14-second period and moderate energy (341). Still not a standout, but a nice, gentle offshore breeze will keep it tidy.
Wednesday the 22nd gets a bit weird – the wind picks up and we get a lumpy 4 ft in the afternoon with some rain, but the real story is what’s coming. Thursday the 23rd is when it gets serious. The swell jumps to a solid 12 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. That’s a lot of water moving – the combined energy is a massive 7077 in the morning. However, the wind is cross-offshore and strong, around 15 mph. This is expert territory only; if you’re not on your game, stay on the sand. It’s big, raw, and powerful.
Friday the 24th drops a little – still a chunky 7-7 ft SW groundswell, but the cross-off wind remains strong at 15 mph. It’s still only for the experienced crew. Saturday the 25th is the real standout in this forecast. The swell eases to a manageable 5-6 ft from the SSW, the wind turns offshore in the afternoon, and the energy is still punchy at 784. That’s your best window for a proper session without getting hammered.
Sunday the 26th through to Tuesday the 28th is a mixed bag. Sunday morning is okay at 3 ft with offshore wind, but it drops off quickly. Monday the 27th sees a spike back to 10 ft from the SW on Monday afternoon, but the wind is cross-shore and messy. Tuesday the 28th is huge again – 13 ft SW swell with an onshore wind – that’s a full-on, blown-out mess, only for the madmen.
After that, it fades. Wednesday the 29th to Thursday the 30th are small and pretty ordinary. Then, Friday the 31st morning surprises us – glassy conditions, a clean 5 ft from the SSW, and moderate energy (938). That’s another good one.
But the real highlight of the whole run lands on Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd of August. Saturday morning is absolute glass, with a 5 ft SSW groundswell, combined energy of 1289, and a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell – long lines, plenty of power, and clean as a whistle. Sunday morning is nearly as good – 5 ft from the SW, a 17-second period, light offshore wind, and energy at 1663. These two mornings are the absolute cream of the crop. The long period means the sets will be widely spaced, making the paddle out easier, and the waves will have real shape and drive off the point. Expect a few more people out there – it’s a crowd favourite for good reason.
So, to sum it up: get out there Saturday the 18th for a clean, fun session, but the real standouts are Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd of August – glassy, solid, and absolutely world-class conditions at the Bowl.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
382 | 250 | 83 | 97 | 93 | 109 | 161 | 107 | 132 | 341 | 246 | 109 | 144 | 302 | 1749 | 5353 | 4509 | 2123 | 1714 | 2053 | 1809 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:34PM2.05m | 2:41AM1.81m | 3:14PM2.04m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:47PM0.42m | 8:50AM0.22m | 9:31PM0.30m | 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 | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
382 | 250 | 81 | 97 | 93 | 64 | 161 | 107 | 132 | 341 | 246 | 109 | 144 | 97 | 807 | 1724 | 1314 | 2123 | 1714 | 2053 | 1809 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 10 | WSW 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 11 | E 10 | — | SW 14 | — | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 15 | — | — |
— | — | 83 | 42 | 39 | 109 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 61 | 2 | — | 214 | — | 789 | 77 | 72 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 20 | SSW 19 | WSW 12 | S 16 | SSW 10 | S 14 | — | — | — | S 12 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 15 | 37 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | NW 2 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | WNW 3 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 302 | 1749 | 5353 | 4509 | — | 9 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
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.










