Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards for the Bells stretch.

The opening days are a bit of a slow burn, but the potential by the end of the second week is absolutely massive. We’ve got small, clean waves to start, but the real story builds towards a monster swell. The water is sitting at 56.5°F right now, which is about average for this time of year, so no need to worry about a freak cold snap.

The first real action kicks off Saturday morning at Bells Beach - Bowl. It’s small, with a 2.3ft SW swell, but the wind is light and cross-off, keeping things tidy. The wave energy is moderate (554). It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a nice start to the weekend. The afternoon shows a pulse of energy coming through, jumping to 4.6ft from the SW with a 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell. The energy jumps right up (1724), and while the wind stays light, it’s still a bit cross-off. This is a good session for experienced surfers who know the bowl.

Sunday morning is still a clean 4.6ft SW swell, but the wind picks up to 12 mph, making it feel a bit lumpy. The energy drops a bit (987), and it’s just not as good. The rest of the first week is a bit of a write-off. Monday and Tuesday get messy with rain and stronger winds, although Tuesday morning does see a big but unruly 7.9ft SW swell (2048). That’s big and powerful, but the wind is cross-off and strong, so it’s only for the die-hards. The energy drops sharply in the afternoon. Wednesday through Friday sees the swell drop right off, with tiny waves and poor conditions. The best of that period is Friday morning, with a tiny 3.0ft SW swell and a glassy, offshore NNW wind at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (582) and the waves are clean, but there’s barely any size.

Now, for the real standout. Tuesday, August 11th is the day to circle. The morning shows a solid 6.9ft WSW swell with a 16-second period, and the energy is already very strong (2842). The wind is light and cross-off from the W. By the afternoon, it goes nuclear. We’re looking at a 9.8ft WSW swell with a 14-second period, and the energy is enormous (5084). The wind drops to a near-calm 3 mph. This is expert territory only – that size is heavy and powerful. Wednesday, August 12th, keeps the energy pumping with a 6.6ft SW swell and a very long 19-second period, and the energy is still massive (4097). The wind is a light 6 mph, keeping it clean. That combination of size and long period will make it a bit fast and straight at the beach breaks, but for a reef and point like Bells? That’s the dream. The crowd factor is a consideration – Bells can be busy, and with a swell this good, it will be.

After that, the swell drops and the wind turns onshore for the final few days, putting a cap on the run. If you’re an expert, the second week is where it’s at. The first week is for the patient.

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