Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.7°C
0.7° 

Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 8,216 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 8th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 7AM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 9th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up at Bells Beach – Bowl.

The next 16 days have a slow start, but there’s a real pulse of energy building later. The first few days are a bit messy, but once the wind cleans up, this place starts to fire. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

Monday the 7th is a write-off. The morning’s tiny at 2ft from the SW, and that cross-on 25 km/h wind is making it choppy and ugly. The afternoon bumps up to 5ft, but it’s short-period windswell and still cross-on, so keep the board in the car. No energy to speak of.

Tuesday the 8th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings a clean 3ft SW swell with a long 18-second period, and a light west-southwest wind that’s actually cross-off. The wave energy is solid (1070), and the conditions are clean – this is a standout for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays around 5ft with a 17-second period, but the wind swings cross-shore, so it’s not as good.

Wednesday the 9th sees the swell jump up, but the wind is a cross-shore 30 km/h, and the waves are 8ft to 10ft. That’s big, and with the wind lumping it up, it’s really only for the experienced crew. The energy is huge (4832 to 5942), but the quality is marginal.

Thursday the 10th is still big, with 8ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so it’s choppy and not worth paddling out for most.

Friday the 11th drops back to 5ft to 6ft, but the wind is light cross-on, so it’s a bit bumpy. Still, the period is 14-15 seconds, so there’s some push.

Now, Saturday the 12th – this is the real standout. Morning has 5ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is offshore from the NW at 10 km/h. Clean. The energy is 1201, and these are excellent conditions for the experienced surfer. The afternoon is even lighter, with 5ft and a 5 km/h cross-off from the west – glassy and clean. This is the best day of the first week.

Sunday the 13th fades a bit, with 4ft to 3ft, and the wind is cross-off but from the north, so it’s clean but small. The energy drops off.

Monday the 14th is weak, with 3ft to 2ft, and the wind is offshore but strong, so it’s not worth it.

Tuesday the 15th shows a little pulse again, with 5ft from the SW, but the wind is light cross-on, so it’s marginal.

Now, into the second week, things get more interesting. Wednesday the 16th has 6ft to 6ft with a 15-17 second period, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s lumpy. Energy is strong (1341 to 1966), but the wind kills it.

Thursday the 17th is a standout. Morning has 6ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the north. Clean. The afternoon is even better: 5ft with a 15-second period and offshore wind from the NNW at 20 km/h. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Energy is 1097.

Friday the 18th is blown out, with strong offshore winds and small swell.

Saturday the 19th – now this is a big one. The afternoon brings 12ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the west-northwest. The energy is massive (6721). This is a heavy swell, only for experts, but the conditions are clean. The morning is 6ft, also clean.

Sunday the 20th has 6ft in the morning with clean conditions, and the afternoon is 6ft but with a cross-shore wind, so it’s not as good.

Monday the 21st – another standout. The morning has 7ft SW swell with a 16-second period and offshore wind from the north-northwest at 5 km/h. Clean. The afternoon is 10ft with a 16-second period, but the wind is light cross-on, so it’s less clean. The energy is huge (7702).

Tuesday the 22nd finishes with 7ft from the SSW, clean conditions, and good energy.

If you’re looking for the best, lock in Saturday the 12th morning for clean, offshore waves in the 5ft range, and Thursday the 17th afternoon for a solid 5ft with offshore wind. The big stuff on Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st is for the experienced crew only.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
4
3
5
2
3
5
3
0
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
2
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
13
1.6
SSW
8
0.6
SW
20
0.9
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
2.5
SSW
16
3
SSW
18
3
SSW
18
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
16
1.8
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
15
1.9
SSW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
128
314
306
522
1073
5805
3211
5794
5885
3797
2583
1447
1057
1327
1809
1118
795
776
546
358
276
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
25
SSW
10
S
10
WSW
10
SW
30
SW
30
SSW
30
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
WSW
5
S
10
SSE
5
NNW
10
NW
5
W
10
N
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
N
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:53PM1.66m
7:47AM1.64m
6:58PM1.56m
9:09AM1.59m
8:32PM1.49m
10:28AM1.62m
10:16PM1.52m
11:30AM1.68m
11:38PM1.64m
12:19PM1.75m
00:41AM1.78m
1:01PM1.80m
1:32AM1.89m
Low Tide
12:18PM0.90m
00:47AM0.26m
1:27PM0.98m
2:00AM0.37m
3:00PM0.97m
3:26AM0.45m
4:31PM0.86m
4:50AM0.47m
5:39PM0.68m
5:58AM0.45m
6:31PM0.49m
6:52AM0.44m
7:14PM0.33m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:08
6:09
 mm
2
Temp °C
12
11
10
12
13
10
11
11
11
12
12
11
13
12
10
18
19
16
21
21
20
Feels °C
6
5
7
10
10
5
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
9
8
16
17
14
16
17
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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