Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 06 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 6 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), 18s period, SW swell with 8,311 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period. 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 3.5m 18s 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 (Mon 7th Sep)3.5ft (1.0m) 13s
Best Surf 7AM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 9th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve only got one spot lighting up in the 16-day window, and it’s a ripper when it turns on.

Alright, Bells Beach – the Bowl (Bells Beach - Bowl) is a reef and point setup, exposed to the south-west swell. It’s for advanced surfers only, and it’s consistent, which is a big tick. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Right now, Monday morning, it’s messy. Cross-on breeze at 16 mph from the south-southwest, only 2 ft of weak, scrappy swell. Wave energy is low (270). Monday afternoon is a bit bigger at 5 ft but still cross-on and choppy. A total write-off.

Then Tuesday morning, September 8th, the whole picture flips. Glassy clean conditions with a light cross-off breeze at 6 mph from the west-southwest. Swell is a clean 3 ft from the southwest, but the period is a massive 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, lots of grunt. Wave energy is strong (1107). This is the standout for the whole outlook. The Bowl will be drawing in that long-period SW swell beautifully, offering long, powerful lines. For experienced surfers, this is the moment.

Tuesday afternoon the wind swings a little cross-shore, dropping the quality down to marginal.

Wednesday September 9th brings a big jump in size with an 8 ft to 10 ft south-southwest swell, but the onshore wind (19 mph) makes it lumpy and cross-chop. Wave energy is huge (4527 to 6017), but the quality is not there. Too big and messy for a good paddle session, honestly it looks more interesting for kite surfing.

Thursday September 10th morning cleans up nicely again with a cross-off breeze and an 8 ft SSW swell, but the period drops a touch to 16 seconds. Wave energy is still very strong (3987). This is another solid option for experienced crew, but the wind is a little stronger than Tuesday.

Friday September 11th is more moderate: 5 ft with a light cross-breeze, wave energy around 1057-1117. Just average.

Saturday September 12th morning is the next real highlight. A light north-northeast cross-off breeze at 6 mph, clean conditions, and a 5 ft southwest swell with a 15-second period. Wave energy is strong (1137). It’s a solid, clean offering, but the swell direction is not a perfect match for the Bowl’s optimum SW, so it won’t be as good as Tuesday.

After that, the surf slowly fades and gets unreliable through to the middle of the second week.

There’s a gap from Sunday September 13th through Monday September 14th with very small, weak swell – under 3 ft.

Then we get a short pulse around Tuesday September 15th with a 8 ft SSW swell and clean conditions, but it’s not a standout.

Another gap from Wednesday September 16th to Thursday September 17th is small or marginal.

Friday September 18th morning looks promising again: a 7 ft southwest swell with a fresh offshore wind (22 mph) from the northwest. Wave energy is strong (1374). The swell period is a shorter 12 seconds, so not the classic Bells groundswell, but the offshore wind will tidy it up. This could be a fun, punchy session for experts.

Saturday September 19th morning has an 8 ft SW swell and a fresh offshore breeze, but again, that shorter period. Conditions will be clean, but the swell is right on the edge of too big for most.

The outlook fades out from Sunday September 20th through to Tuesday September 22nd. The very last day, Tuesday September 22nd morning, offers a clean 5 ft SW swell with a long 17-second period and a light breeze. Wave energy is strong (1118). It’s a nice tail-end option.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best on offer is Tuesday morning, September 8th – small, clean, long-period groundswell, perfect for experienced surfers at the Bowl. The second-best shout is Saturday morning, September 12th, which is also clean with a similar sized swell. Anything bigger than 8 ft with onshore wind is a kite day, not a paddle day. Keep your eyes on the Tuesday morning window.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun night, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
0
0
2
4
3
5
2
4
4
4
0
4
3
2
4
4
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WSW
12
0.6
SW
13
1.6
SSW
8
0.6
SW
20
0.9
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SSW
16
3
SSW
18
3
SSW
17
2.5
SSW
16
2.4
SSW
16
1.9
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
14
1.6
SSW
15
1.8
SSW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1430
128
280
306
522
1073
4717
3102
5860
5046
3797
2786
1611
1057
1117
1671
1118
805
589
Wind (km/h)
15
W
25
SSW
25
SSW
10
SSW
10
WSW
10
SW
20
SW
30
SSW
30
SSW
20
SW
15
SW
20
SSW
10
WSW
15
SSW
15
S
5
NNE
10
NNE
10
NE
15
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:38AM1.73m
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
Low Tide
11:48PM0.15m
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
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
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
<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
 mm
1
Temp °C
13
12
10
9
12
13
10
11
11
11
12
12
11
12
11
9
17
20
15
Feels °C
10
5
4
6
10
10
6
3
3
6
8
8
9
9
8
8
14
17
12
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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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