
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,905 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 (Sep 14) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Bells Beach – Bowl. This is a classic reef and point break that’s wide open to the southwest, built for advanced surfers. Water’s sitting at about 57°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s not as bone-chilling as usual, but you’ll still want a thick wetsuit.
The next couple of days are pretty flat and boring. Monday the 14th has tiny 2ft SW swell with weak energy (166). Morning has a light offshore breeze, so it’ll be clean, but there’s just no push. By afternoon the wind goes cross-offshore, and it stays small. Tuesday the 15th sees a big jump in energy – 1367 in the morning, up to 2323 by the afternoon – with swell building to 7ft and then 8ft from the SW. But the wind is fresh and cross-shore, making it lumpy and hard to surf. Not a fun paddle.
Wednesday the 16th is a total mess with strong cross-onshore winds and choppy 8ft SSW swell. Leave the board at home. Thursday the 17th is a little better with 6ft SSW swell and lighter cross-shore breeze, but it’s still marginal and chopped.
Now Friday the 18th is where it gets good. We’ve got 5ft SSW swell in the morning, dropping to 5ft in the afternoon, with clean offshore NW wind at 12 mph. The period is 17 seconds in the morning and 16 seconds in the afternoon – proper groundswell – and the energy is strong at 2277 and 1808. This is a standout: clean, powerful, and lining up perfectly for the Bowl. It’s going to be a great day for experienced surfers, and with crowds only sometimes an issue, you might snag some gems. Saturday the 19th keeps the offshore wind but the swell drops to 4ft and then 3ft, so it’s smaller and weaker (448 and 262 energy). Still fun on a log.
Sunday the 20th starts with a fresh offshore but only 4ft SW swell with a short 12-second period, so it’s average. By afternoon the swell jumps to 8ft SW with 12 seconds and energy of 2343, but the wind is cross-offshore and strong at 18 mph. It’s clean-ish but tricky.
Looking ahead, Monday the 21st sees a big 10ft SSW swell with 16 seconds and energy of 4574 in the afternoon – that’s serious power. But the wind is cross-onshore, so it’ll be choppy and tough. This is expert-only and not ideal. Tuesday the 22nd is another highlight: 7ft SSW swell dropping to 6ft, with light offshore winds and a long 16 to 15 second period. Energy is 2637 and 1527, and conditions are clean and glassy. This is the other standout – smooth, powerful, and offshore all day. If you can wait until Tuesday the 22nd, that’s your best call.
From Wednesday the 23rd onward, the swell fades and the wind gets mixed. Thursday the 24th has some 4ft SSW groundswell but onshore wind, and by Friday the 25th it’s small and rainy with poor conditions. The weekend of the 26th is tiny again, with 2ft to 3ft SW swell. The 27th brings a strong 25 mph cross-offshore wind with 5ft SW swell and a very long 19 second period – energy of 2449 – but the wind is howling, so it’s more of a battle. The last few days of the month are average with small, choppy surf.
So the real standouts are Friday the 18th and Tuesday the 22nd. Both have solid SSW swell, clean offshore wind, and long period groundswell hitting the Bowl just right. Tuesday might edge it with lighter wind. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too messy to get excited about. Get out there on those two days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
147 | 111 | 54 | 1367 | 2323 | 2349 | 2324 | 2355 | 1924 | 1191 | 826 | 742 | 1543 | 1155 | 763 | 410 | 246 | 244 | 341 | 1626 | 2925 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:38PM1.84m | 2:15AM1.97m | 2:13PM1.85m | 2:55AM1.99m | 2:45PM1.84m | 3:31AM1.96m | 3:16PM1.80m | 4:07AM1.90m | 3:46PM1.74m | 4:42AM1.81m | 4:15PM1.67m | 5:18AM1.70m | 4:44PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:53PM0.21m | 8:19AM0.45m | 8:29PM0.14m | 8:56AM0.49m | 9:03PM0.13m | 9:30AM0.55m | 9:37PM0.16m | 10:03AM0.63m | 10:09PM0.23m | 10:34AM0.72m | 10:42PM0.31m | 11:07AM0.82m | 11:17PM0.41m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | — | — | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 |
147 | 111 | 54 | — | — | 41 | 2324 | 2355 | 1924 | 1191 | 826 | 742 | 1543 | 1155 | 763 | 410 | 246 | 244 | 341 | 503 | 1760 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 16 | — | — | SSW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 14 | — |
15 | 14 | 49 | — | — | — | — | 73 | 42 | — | — | 44 | 600 | 653 | 70 | 38 | 16 | 13 | 178 | 214 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | — | S 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 134 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | N 3 | NNW 4 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
— | 20 | 19 | 1367 | 2323 | 2349 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 1626 | 2925 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 6 | 569 | 701 | 571 | 373 | 200 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 329 | 32 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










