Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

We’ve got a classic setup on the cards. The surf kicks off with a solid, long-period groundswell arriving on Tuesday, July 7th. Bells Beach - Bowl (Victoria) is the only break in the game, and it’s a reef and point set-up that handles a southwest swell beautifully.

Tuesday morning is the real standout to start. The water’s sitting at 58°F, which is about average for this time of year. We’ve got a clean 4ft SW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, and the wind is glassy from the ESE at just 3 mph. The energy is moderate at 677, but the quality is top-notch. This is the pick of the early window – clean, lined-up waves for the advanced crew. Expect a few sets, but the long period means it might wall up a touch at the Bowl; still, a beautiful morning.

Wednesday the 8th morning steps it up. The swell pushes to 4ft from the SW, period still a lovely 18 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1240. The wind is a light NNE cross-offshore at 3 mph, keeping the face clean. This is for experienced surfers – the energy is real, the waves will have some punch, and the bowl will be working nicely. Great session.

Thursday the 9th morning drops back a touch with 3ft SW swell (16 seconds) and glassy conditions from the NNW at 3 mph. Still quality, but not the standout of the week.

By Friday the 10th, it’s smaller again at 4ft with a 15-second period, but morning offshore NNW winds at 6 mph keep it clean. A good fun day, but nothing to write home about.

Then we hit a rough patch. Saturday the 11th sees the wind howling from the N at 19 mph, and the swell drops right off to 2ft. Not worth paddling out – it’s messy and blown out. Sunday the 12th is bigger, 4ft and even 6ft in the afternoon, but that NW and W wind is 22 mph. It’s offshore and clean, but that’s a full-on gale. The wave energy is strong (1042 and 1238), but for a point and reef, with that wind strength, it’s more for the kamikaze crew or kite surfers than a pleasant paddle.

Into the second week, things get serious. Monday the 13th morning pumps a big 8ft SW swell (16 seconds) with strong offshore NW winds at 19 mph. The combined energy is massive at 3372. This is expert territory only – big, powerful, and the wind is strong but clean. Tuesday the 14th stays solid with 7ft SW swell (16 seconds) and cleaner cross-offshore WNW winds at 12 mph. The energy is still very strong at 3828. Again, for the experienced only. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, but with size like this, the pack will be thinned out.

Wednesday the 15th drops slightly to 7ft SSW swell (14 seconds) but the wind goes cross-shore from the SW at 12 mph, putting a chop on it. Not the best.

Thursday the 16th is smaller and crummier, with a 5ft SSW swell and light cross-onshore winds. Best to sit that one out.

Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th see a return to clean conditions with lighter winds and 3ft to 4ft SW swell, but the energy is modest. Good for a longboard or a fun mid-length, but no fireworks.

The real late highlight is Tuesday the 21st of July. Morning brings a 7ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period and light offshore NW winds at 9 mph. The combined energy reads a massive 4282. This is excellent, powerful surf for the experienced, and the offshore breeze will have the Bowl looking world-class. That is the best session of the entire outlook – mark it down.

Wednesday the 22nd holds at 6ft SW with 16-second period, offshore NW winds at 19 mph, and 2075 energy. Still strong, still clean, but the wind is fresher.

So, overall: Tuesday the 7th morning and Wednesday the 8th morning are the first week standouts for cleaner, high-quality groundswell. But the absolute gold is Tuesday the 21st of July morning – that’s the one to circle on the calendar. Keep in mind, long-range, it’s promising but not locked in. Outside of those windows, expect a lot of big, windy days and smaller lulls. Rusty out.

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