Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, let’s look at what’s ahead for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot on the menu, and it’s a classic.

Right off the bat, the first real action kicks off this Friday, the 7th of August. The Bowl is looking clean with a nice 4ft SW groundswell rolling in. The period is a very long 16 seconds, and combined energy is moderate at 576. A light offshore breeze from the WNW is going to have those lines looking glassy. It’s a reef and point setup, so that long period will wrap in nicely. For the advanced crew, this is a solid session, though crowds are possible at Bells.

That quality holds into Friday afternoon with a 3ft SW swell (15-second period) and a cross-off breeze, keeping things clean. The energy bumps up a tick to 636.

Saturday morning gets a bit of a cross-off breeze from the north, and the swell drops a touch. It’s still clean on the surface, but the energy is dropping. The score is lower, so it’s not the standout.

The 9th and 10th are a write-off for quality surfing. The wind gets up, and the swell drops off. On Sunday, it’s a fresh breeze and small junky waves. Monday the 10th sees a big spike in energy (1147) with a 4ft SW swell at 19 seconds, but a fresh breeze is making it messy. That’s a lot of raw power, but not surfable for the average punter.

Now, look out for Thursday the 13th. Thursday morning sees a solid 8ft SW swell at 16 seconds. The energy is strong (2712), but it’s a cross-off breeze. That’s big surf – over 8ft, so this is strictly for experts. Thursday afternoon, the swell jumps to 15ft (WSW) with a staggering 11082 energy reading. That is massive. Even with a moderate breeze, that’s a serious, serious swell, but it’s a big-time window for the experienced crew only.

The following week, things settle down. Friday the 14th drops to 7ft, still a good size, with a gentle offshore. There’s a window for the experienced surfer again. The weekend gets smaller and picks up a cross-onshore wind, so it’s not as clean.

The real gem might be further out. On Monday the 17th, we’ve got a glassy morning with a 3ft SW swell. The energy is low (373), but it’s glassy. That’s the pick for a clean, cruisy session for the intermediate crowd.

Then, on Wednesday the 19th, the afternoon looks promising. A 5ft WSW swell at 17 seconds with a gentle offshore wind. The energy is strong at 1668. That’s a clean, powerful wave at Bells. Keep an eye on this one.

The final few days drop off in quality. The 22nd shows a glassy morning with a small 3ft SW swell, a nice way to finish the window if you’re looking for a clean, small-wave session.

Overall, the standout is undoubtedly Thursday the 13th afternoon for the absolute gun surfers. The size and energy are off the charts. For the rest of us, the glassy days on the 17th and the 19th afternoon are the ones to circle. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so you won’t need a steamer if you’re used to it.

Rusty.

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