Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Bells Bowl stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first few days are tiny, with clean but small waves around 2ft to 3ft on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s surfable, sure, but nothing to get excited about. The real show starts to build on Thursday the 23rd. That’s when a solid pulse of SW groundswell rolls in, pushing 12ft in the morning with a period of 14 seconds. The wave energy is strong (6412), and while the wind is cross-off, it’s a fresh 16 mph, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. This is big, powerful stuff – definitely for experienced surfers only. The afternoon drops to 10ft but the wind picks up to 19 mph, making it a real handful.

Friday the 24th is a standout. The swell drops a touch to 8ft, but it’s swinging more south-southwest with a very long 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and at Bells, those long lines will wrap in beautifully. The wind is cross-off all day. The morning session is the pick, with moderate breeze but clean faces. The wave energy is still very strong (3392). This is the day for the advanced crew who know the Bowl.

Saturday the 25th sees another pulse, back up to 12ft, but the period drops to 12 seconds, making it a bit more raw and less refined. Still, with cross-off winds, it’ll be a beast of a day for the big-wave chargers. Sunday the 26th drops right back down to 4ft, so you’ll be hunting for the sets.

Looking further out, there’s an interesting window at the end of the month. On Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July, we’ve got glassy conditions with a light offshore breeze in the mornings. The swell is a consistent 5ft to 6ft from the SSW with a 14 to 15-second period. The wave energy is moderate (1038 to 1459). This is clean, lined-up surf that’s still got some push. It’s not the big stuff, but for a morning session with no wind, it’ll be worth the paddle.

The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so don’t forget the booties.

The absolute standout is Friday the 24th of July. The combination of a solid 8ft SSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period and clean cross-off wind is about as good as it gets for Bells. The Bowl will be offering up some proper, long walls. For the second week, Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July mornings are the highlight, with glassy conditions and clean, fun-sized waves. It’s a promising run, but keep an eye on the wind closer to the day.

Rusty.

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