Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid window of surf coming up for Bells Beach, but it’s gonna take a bit of a beating from the wind early on before it cleans up real nice.

Right off the bat, the first proper swell we see is on Wednesday the 29th of July. It’s a big one—a solid 10-foot swell from the SW with a very long 16-second period. The combined wave energy is a massive 4888, so there’s plenty of power in the water. But that 22 mph cross-shore wind is gonna chop it up, making it a bit of a mess. Not the day to be out there unless you’re really keen on a battle. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a lighter cross-offshore breeze and a 12-foot SW swell, but it’s still a big, powerful wave. This is expert territory at over 8 feet.

Thursday the 30th brings a drop in size, down to 5 feet from the SSW with a 13-second period. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping things clean. The energy is down to 837, so it’s a more manageable wave, but the quality is just marginal. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

Now, Friday the 1st of August is where the real magic starts to build. The morning is clean with a light breeze, a 4-foot SW swell, but the afternoon is the standout. The wind swings to a glassy 3 mph from the south, giving us a 3-foot SSW swell with a 12-second period. It’s clean, glassy, and the energy is a moderate 409. This is a proper session for a longboard or a funboard.

The real gem of the whole forecast arrives on Saturday the 2nd of August. The afternoon is the pick. A 5-foot SW swell, with a very long 17-second period, and a 6 mph offshore wind from the NNW. The combined wave energy jumps to 1649, which is strong. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a classic Bells window—clean, offshore, and a long-period groundswell. That long period means the waves will be powerful, with good shape, and longer lulls between sets. It’s a point and reef setup, so that long period will work a treat. This is definitely the best on offer.

Sunday the 3rd of August holds some size, around 5 feet, but the wind is a fresh cross-offshore, which is okay but not as clean as Saturday. The energy is still decent at 1172. The rest of the first week and into the second week sees a lot of smaller, cleaner waves, but nothing with the same punch.

Mid-week, on the 7th of August, we get another nice pulse. Friday morning brings a 3-foot SW swell with a very long 18-second period, and a 9 mph offshore wind from the NW. The energy is moderate at 536, but the conditions are very good. Friday afternoon is even better: 3 feet, 19-second period, and a light offshore breeze. The wave energy is 700. This is another clean, classic Bells session.

The end of the run, around Wednesday the 13th of August, shows a 5-foot to 8-foot SW swell, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore, so it’s not going to be as clean as the earlier windows. The energy is high, but the wind is a factor.

So, to wrap it up: the standout is Saturday the 2nd of August in the afternoon, with clean offshore winds, a nice 5-foot groundswell, and strong energy. The second best is Friday the 7th of August with a smaller, but very clean, long-period swell. The early part of the period is big and windy, while the middle and end have some cleaner, more manageable windows. The water temp is unremarkable, about average for the time of year.

Rusty.

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