Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,194 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period. 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 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking in the water.
We’ve got a 16-day window opening up, but don’t rush to grab your board just yet. The early part of the week is a write-off, with tiny, sloppy swell and messy wind. It’s not until Thursday the 20th of August that we see anything even close to surfable. From there, we get a slow building trend that peaks on the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of August. That Saturday and Sunday are the real standouts, with solid groundswell and manageable wind. After that, it’s mostly a mixed bag, with some clean windows but a lot of onshore junk, before a promising, glassy little window opens up on Tuesday the 1st of September.
The main event and the clear standout for this run is at Bells Beach - Bowl (reef and point). This is an advanced wave, consistent, exposed to the SW, and optimum swell from the SW – and that’s exactly what we get. The swell energy jumps up to moderate on Thursday, but the real magic starts on Saturday the 22nd. You’ve got a solid 5 ft swell from the SW with a period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, long lines, and a lot of energy (1194 on the energy scale). The wind is a light cross-off, so the wave faces will be clean and lined up. Sunday the 23rd is just as good: 5 ft from the SW, 14-16 second period, and a gentle offshore in the morning. The energy is even stronger (1575). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. If you’re an expert, that weekend is your window. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. Crowds can happen here, so expect company.
There’s a notable second window on Tuesday the 1st of September. The swell has dropped back to 4 ft from the SW, 15-second period, but the wind is absolutely glassy – dead calm. That will give you silky, clean conditions and moderate wave energy (610). It’s not the size of the weekend, but for pure quality, this morning looks like a treat.
Watch out for the end of the first week; from Tuesday the 25th through to the 31st of August, it’s mostly poor with a lot of cross-onshore and onshore wind chopping up the swell. There’s a short break on Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th with clean winds, but the swell is small and the energy is weak – only worth it if you’re desperate.
That’s the picture. Get on the weekend if you can handle it, or wait for that glassy day in September.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 10°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 196 | 109 | 85 | 54 | 69 | 163 | 163 | 224 | 194 | 943 | 1149 | 1149 | 1140 | 799 | 1001 | 711 | 195 | 507 | 437 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:01AM1.89m | 3:51PM1.88m | 4:41AM1.83m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:56AM0.52m | 10:16PM0.17m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 196 | 109 | 85 | 54 | 69 | 163 | 163 | 224 | 167 | 943 | 1149 | 1149 | 1140 | 799 | 1001 | 711 | 195 | 507 | 437 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | E 8 | SE 7 | SW 19 | SW 18 | E 8 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 18 | S 18 | SW 24 | SSW 22 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | SW 14 | SW 20 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 54 | 49 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 194 | 6 | 22 | 45 | 134 | 316 | 574 | — | 169 | 16 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | — | ENE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 7 | SW 20 | SW 6 | — | SW 24 | — | — | S 17 | — | — | S 21 | — | SSW 19 |
| kJ | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 60 | 18 | — | 22 | — | — | 24 | — | — | 9 | — | 36 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NW 2 | NW 3 | NW 2 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — |
| kJ | 10 | 31 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 29 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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