Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks. It’s a proper mixed bag, but there are some sessions that’ll make you glad you waxed up.

The standout is definitely Bells Beach - Bowl (reef and point). This spot is exposed to the SW, and that’s exactly where the best swell is coming from. For Thursday afternoon, the 3rd, we’ve got a solid 15 ft of SW swell, but it’s blowing a cross-off 25 km/h wind from the WSW. That’s a lot of water. The combined energy is massive at 9330, so it's pumping, but it's going to be a battle. The water temp is 57°, which is about average for this time of year. This one’s for the experienced crew only.

Friday the 4th is where the magic happens. The morning brings a drop to 7 ft of SW groundswell, with a period of 16 seconds—that’s long, powerful energy. The wind is a clean offshore from the NW at 15 km/h. The combined energy is still strong at 2357. This is about as good as it gets. The waves will be clean and powerful, perfect for the point. The afternoon holds similar with 7 ft, and that same clean offshore wind. It’s a standout day.

Saturday the 5th sees the swell drop to 5 ft in the morning, with a fresh offshore wind from the NW at 30 km/h. The period is still a solid 15 seconds, but the energy is down to 1006. It’s still clean, but the wind is getting strong. The afternoon turns a bit ugly with a cross-off 35 km/h wind from the W and 6 ft of SW swell. It’s a bit messy.

Sunday the 6th is a bit smaller again. Morning is 5 ft from the SSW, with a light cross-off wind from the W. The energy is 949. It’s clean but not the same punch. The afternoon drops to 4 ft and gets a cross-shore wind, making it less appealing.

From Monday the 7th, the swell really drops off. We’re looking at 3 ft to 5 ft for the next few days, with mostly cross or onshore winds. The energy is low, under 400. It’s a quiet period. There’s a little glimmer on Tuesday the 8th morning with 4 ft of SW swell, a very long 18-second period, and a light offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is 1095, so it’s got some life, but it’s still a small window.

The next real highlight comes on Wednesday the 16th afternoon. We get a jump to 8 ft of SW swell, with a period of 14 seconds, and a light cross-shore wind from the SSW. The combined energy is 3361. That’s a solid pulse, but it’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The wind is light, so conditions could be good.

But be warned, Thursday the 17th is a write-off. We’re looking at 8 ft of SSW swell with 50 km/h winds from the SSW. That’s near gale force, and the energy is 4136, but it’s blown out. Stay on the beach that day.

The end of the run, from the 18th, is a mess of onshore wind and dropping swell. Not worth paddling out.

If you’ve got the skills, the Friday the 4th windows are the best on offer. The 16th is a maybe.

Rusty.

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