Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ for the next couple weeks.

We’ve got a stretch of swell on the way, but it’s gonna take a few days to really dial in. The water temp’s sittin’ at 57°, which is pretty darn close to the long-term average for this time of year, nothin’ wild there.

The first few days are a bit of a tease. Tuesday (1st September) starts with a clean but ordinary 4ft SW swell with a long 16-second push – that’s a nice groundswell for Bells (Bells Beach – Bowl), but the cross-off wind is strong enough to make it a bit ordinary. The energy (744) is only moderate. By Tuesday afternoon it drops a touch, but the wind goes offshore and the swell is still around 3ft.

Wednesday (2nd) bumps up a little, around 5ft to 5ft from the SW, with good long period (15-16 seconds). The wave energy jumps to over 1200, so there’s some proper grunt. But the wind stays cross-off, and the forecast calls it marginal, so it’s not clean enough for me to get too excited.

Thursday (3rd) morning has 7ft SW swell but fresh cross-off winds. In the arvo, it’s the first real standout: 15ft SW with a 14-second period, and the combined energy hits a massive 9003 – that’s some serious power. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the west. It’s going to be huge, so only for the experienced. That’s your best session early on.

Friday (4th) morning sees a 8ft SW swell, still big (over 8ft), with offshore NW wind and excellent conditions for the skilled crew. The energy is 2481. After that, it holds around 7ft Saturday (5th) arvo gets an even bigger 16ft SW with 14-second period and energy of 12090 – huge again, but cross-off wind and raw power. Not a day for the faint-hearted.

Sunday (6th) morning cleans right up: 5ft SW swell, 15-second period, light offshore NNW wind, and energy just over 1000. That’s a nice, solid groundswell with clean conditions. The arvo goes glassy with just 4ft from the SW and a 14-second period, energy 707 – it’ll be pretty but small.

Monday (7th) and Tuesday (8th) drop off to around 2ft to 4ft. Tuesday morning is glassy with a 3ft SW groundswell and an incredible 18-second period, energy 676. That’s a very long period for a small wave – it’ll be slow but straight lines, better for a point wave than bowl. Clean though.

Wednesday (9th) is nasty: strong 13ft+ SSW swell but with heavy cross-shore winds and poor conditions. That’s a hard pass.

Thursday (10th) is another true standout: 10ft SW with a 16-second period, light cross-off wind, and energy of 6027. That’s exceptional for experts – big, clean, powerful groundswell. Friday (11th) stays solid around 5ft with light wind and good energy (1340).

The second week sees a few smaller days, but Sunday (13th) morning has glassy 3ft SW swell, Tuesday (15th) arvo has a clean 4ft with moderate offshore WNW breeze. The final day, Wednesday (16th), turns ugly with cross-shore wind and lumpy conditions.

The absolute best on offer is Thursday afternoon (3rd September) with that beast 15ft SW and the huge energy, and Thursday (10th September) with the 10ft SW and clean light winds. The Sunday morning (6th) with 5ft and offshore NNW is also a ripper for a cleaner, more manageable session.

Crowds at Bells are sometimes an issue, so on those big standouts, expect company.

– Rusty

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