Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 22 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.5° C
0.6° 

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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,656 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 21s. 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 4.0m 14s 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 0.9m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7ft (2.2m) 15s
Best Surf 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7ft (2.2m) 15s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug)13ft (4.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, same spot, just in feet and miles per hour for the Yanks.

We’ve got Bells Beach – Bowl in the crosshairs. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.

That combined swell energy reading *4119* on Saturday the 22nd tells you there’s some serious power in the water. Swell direction is southwest, which is the gold standard here.

Saturday morning, August 22 – we’re looking at 8ft swell from the SW with a 13-second period. The wind is cross-off from the WSW at 15 mph. It’s clean, but a little lumpy. By the afternoon it’s up to 13ft SW with a 14-second period – that’s big wave territory, and it’s choppy with a cross-shore wind. Experts only.

Sunday morning, August 23 – this is the one. The wind swings to a light offshore from the NW at 6 mph. The swell is a manageable 5ft from the SW with a 14-second period. Dead clean. That’s the session to write home about. The afternoon holds at 5ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period and a light cross-off – still great, but the morning is king.

Monday, August 24 – small. 4ft in the morning, dropping to 3ft by the afternoon with a light offshore. Tiny but clean.

Tuesday, August 25 – onshore wind ruins it.

Wednesday and Thursday (Aug 26-27) – poor, though Thursday afternoon goes glassy with about 3ft from the SSW. Tiny and clean if you’re on a longboard.

Friday, August 28 – a return to form. Morning has 4ft from the SW with a 17-second period and a clean offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. Beautiful lines. Afternoon stays good at 4ft.

Saturday, August 29 – onshore and messy.

Sunday, August 30 – morning brings 5ft from the SSW with a very long 19-second period, but the wind is a cross-onshore from the south. Afternoon jumps to 8ft from the SSW at 18 seconds, same wind. Big and unruly.

Monday, August 31 – morning is glassy with a 6ft SSW swell, 16-second period. No wind. That’s your second standout. Perfect conditions.

September 1st – 6ft SW swell, 15 seconds, cross-off from the west at 12 mph. Clean in the morning.

September 2nd – onshore junk.

September 3rd – 3ft SW in the morning, clean. Afternoon goes offshore from the NW at 6 mph with 4ft SW swell, 15 seconds. Good.

September 4th – 7ft SSW in the morning, 15 seconds, clean. Afternoon goes cross-shore and bumpy.

September 5th – 4ft SW in the morning, clean. Glassy 3ft SSW in the afternoon.

September 6th (Sunday) – 4ft SW, 16 seconds, clean cross-off. A solid finish.

Best of the bunch: Sunday morning, August 23 – that light offshore wind, 5ft SW swell at Bells Bowl is a dream. Backup is Monday morning, August 31 – glassy and 6ft of clean groundswell.

Anytime it’s pushing 8ft or more here, it’s expert territory. The long-period swells (15 seconds and over) feather perfectly along that reef – absolute joy. The place holds swell consistently and is exposed to the SW, so there’s always something. Expect company on the prime days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
7
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
2
1
2
3
3
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
13
4
SW
14
1.9
SW
15
1.5
SW
14
1.6
SW
16
1.3
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
12
1.1
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.5
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
1.4
SW
18
1.3
SW
17
3
WSW
16
1.8
SW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2121
6505
1576
877
1224
760
545
251
376
501
431
251
167
245
196
103
238
1313
1062
4523
480
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
20
SW
10
WNW
10
NW
10
WNW
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
NNW
5
NNE
10
SE
10
ESE
10
SSW
10
S
10
SSE
5
N
10
NNW
15
WNW
20
N
15
W
20
S
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:19PM1.62m
6:47AM1.56m
5:50PM1.52m
7:46AM1.48m
6:27PM1.43m
9:06AM1.44m
7:25PM1.34m
10:33AM1.47m
9:05PM1.28m
11:36AM1.55m
10:46PM1.32m
12:19PM1.63m
11:57PM1.42m
Low Tide
11:40AM0.86m
00:01AM0.39m
12:19PM0.97m
00:44AM0.47m
1:11PM1.07m
1:38AM0.55m
2:36PM1.14m
2:51AM0.60m
4:31PM1.11m
4:11AM0.61m
5:46PM1.00m
5:20AM0.57m
6:30PM0.86m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
3
6
1
2
2
Temp °C
14
14
10
13
16
12
16
17
14
11
12
12
14
14
12
17
17
13
13
12
11
Feels °C
8
9
7
10
14
10
13
15
12
9
10
11
12
12
12
14
13
9
8
7
7
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  • 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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