Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and let’s cut to it. The next couple of weeks at Bells have some promise, but you’ll have to pick your moments. The water’s around 57°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small win.

Right now, Tuesday afternoon, the surf is 2.4m from the SW, but the wind is a miserable cross-shore at 35 km/h. It’s choppy and raw. The energy is moderate at 2356, but it’s not doing you any favors.

Wednesday keeps the size around 2.3m, but that cross-onshore wind is still messing the surface up. It’s lumpy and hard work.

Thursday, the swell drops to 1.6m, and the wind eases, but it’s still cross-shore. Marginal at best, with energy dropping to 1072. You might find a few, but it’s ordinary.

Now, the first real highlight is Friday the 18th. The swell is around 1.6m from the SW, but the wind swings offshore from the NW at 20 km/h. That’s the key. The energy jumps to 2299, and it’s going to be clean and lined up. This is where you want to be if you’re experienced – Bells Beach – Bowl handles this kind of power well. The offshore wind is a big plus, giving you those clean faces.

Saturday the 19th is a bit smaller, at 1.1m, but the offshore wind holds, especially in the afternoon when it goes light. Cleaner, but smaller.

Then things shut down. From Sunday through Monday, the swell fades and the wind turns onshore. It’s not worth it. Tuesday the 22nd, the swell bumps back to 2.3m, but the wind is onshore from the SE, and the conditions are poor. Big but messy.

We hit a real lull from the 23rd to the 25th. The swell drops under a metre, and while the conditions are clean with light winds, there’s just no power. Energy readings drop to 170 and 158. It’s a full stop.

But then, the one to really mark up: Saturday the 26th of September. The swell comes back at 1.7m from the SW with a 18-second period. The wind is offshore from the NNW at 25 km/h, and the energy is up to 1865. This is a proper groundswell – longer period, more punch, better shape. It’s going to be clean and strong. This is the best of the whole forecast, but I’d call it promising, not certain, since we’re a week out.

Sunday the 27th is still clean with 1.5m swell and a light cross-offshore wind. Energy is at 1433. Another good day.

But then the wheels come off. From Monday the 28th onward, the wind is onshore from the south and southeast, and it’s choppy. By Tuesday the 29th, the period drops to just 7 seconds – that’s wind chop. The energy is weak, and the conditions are poor.

So, the two windows you want are Friday the 18th and, more so, Saturday the 26th. The rest is small, messy, or both. Beginners should stay away from the 2.3m days – that’s too heavy for anyone not comfortable in powerful waves. This break demands respect.

That Saturday swell is the one to chase. You’ll feel it in your chest.

Rusty

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