Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 02 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.8°C
0.9° 

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 2 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 7,554 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 2nd Sep)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 2nd Sep)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 3rd Sep)15ft (4.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a good look at what’s coming for the next couple of weeks. The standout is hands down Bells Beach – Bowl (Advanced), and it’s all about the first few days and then a couple of sneaky windows later.

We start with a solid pulse on Wednesday the 2nd of September. Wednesday morning, the swell is 5 ft from the SW, but it’s the afternoon that gets the blood pumping – 5 ft SW swell with a 15-second period, clean offshore WNW winds at 15 mph, and the combined energy is pumping at 1220. That’s a classic Bells bowl, proper groundswell, and it’s going to be a cracker. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Thursday the 3rd is a monster, but it’s for the brave. The swell jumps to 15 ft SW in the afternoon, period 14 seconds, and the energy is huge at 9711. That’s a big, powerful swell – only for the experts. The wind is cross-off from the W at 15 mph, so it’s clean but heavy. Beginners, stay on the beach for this one.

Friday the 4th is a real treat. Morning sees 8 ft SW swell, 16-second period, with a gentle offshore from the NW at 9 mph. That’s 2558 energy, and it’s clean, glassy conditions. The afternoon holds similar with 7 ft SW. This is one of the best windows: solid, long-period groundswell, clean conditions, and that Bells point is going to be lined up. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Saturday the 5th gets blown out. Winds are howling from the WNW at 28 mph in the morning, making it a mess. Even though the swell is 5 ft, that wind is too strong for any kind of fun. The afternoon is not much better with 25 mph winds – leave it.

Sunday the 6th calm down. Morning has 5 ft SW swell, 14 seconds, and a light breeze from the WNW at 6 mph. It’s clean, but the energy is down to 1006. It’s surfable, but not the highlight.

Monday the 7th is a write-off. Swell drops to 3 ft and the wind is cross-shore from the SSW at 12 mph. Poor conditions.

Then we hit a quiet patch. Tuesday the 8th brings a glimmer – 5 ft SW swell, 18-second period in the morning, with gentle offshore WNW winds at 9 mph. That’s a very long period groundswell, and it’ll be peeling nicely at the Bowl, but the size is modest. Energy is 1571. Afternoon is similar with 5 ft, 17 seconds.

Wednesday the 9th gets messy again. Winds pick up to 19 mph from the SW, cross-shore, making the 10 ft SW swell lumpy. Not for the faint-hearted.

From Thursday the 10th onwards, things get smaller and more inconsistent. There’s a decent window on Saturday the 12th afternoon – 4 ft SW swell, 14 seconds, with moderate offshore winds from the WNW at 12 mph. Clean, but small. Energy is 764.

The rest of the second week is mostly small, with waves under 3 ft and mixed winds. Tuesday the 15th afternoon has 2 ft SW, 17 seconds, with light cross-off winds – clean but tiny. Thursday the 17th afternoon shows 4 ft SW, 16 seconds, with moderate cross-off winds – worth a look if you’re desperate.

Overall, the first week is the go. Standout sessions are Wednesday afternoon the 2nd, Friday the 4th all day, and Sunday the 6th morning. The long-period swells on the 8th and 15th are promising but small. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Thu night, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sat morning, calm by Mon night).

Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
8
4
4
4
2
2
1
6
4
3
2
0
0
3
4
4
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
3
SW
14
4.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
15
2.3
SW
16
2.2
SW
16
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
2.3
SW
14
4
SW
13
1.6
SW
14
1.4
SW
14
1.1
SW
12
0.8
SW
13
1
SSW
8
1.1
SW
12
1.4
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
1.3
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1065
1135
1140
3094
7554
2794
2513
2465
1806
1203
1996
4862
1002
661
358
199
110
341
1136
1158
803
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
25
WNW
25
NW
25
W
25
W
15
NW
15
NW
15
NNW
30
NNW
45
WNW
40
W
20
W
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
WNW
20
SSW
15
S
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
WSW
20
SW
Wind State
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
2:48PM1.85m
3:31AM1.96m
3:17PM1.85m
4:11AM1.96m
3:49PM1.84m
4:54AM1.92m
4:24PM1.81m
5:42AM1.84m
5:04PM1.75m
6:38AM1.73m
5:53PM1.66m
7:47AM1.64m
6:58PM1.56m
Low Tide
9:06PM0.15m
9:29AM0.52m
9:40PM0.08m
10:05AM0.60m
10:18PM0.05m
10:44AM0.69m
11:00PM0.07m
11:26AM0.80m
11:48PM0.15m
12:18PM0.90m
00:47AM0.26m
1:27PM0.98m
2:00AM0.37m
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:00
6:01
6:02
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:06
 mm
1
2
7
1
Temp °C
14
13
13
14
14
10
15
16
15
12
13
12
14
14
13
12
12
10
14
15
11
Feels °C
9
8
7
7
8
6
10
12
9
3
5
6
10
10
9
6
8
9
11
11
6
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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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