Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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