
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 18s period, SW swell with 16,642 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 5.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Look, the first few days are a bit flat before the real action kicks off at Bells Beach – Bowl. Don't rush out just yet, but there's some proper juice coming.
Saturday the 5th of September is a dud. There's a 5ft SW groundswell (15 sec) with a fresh NW offshore, but the wave quality just ain't there—something weird with the tide or shape. Combined swell energy is 1118 (moderate), but it's a pass.
Sunday the 6th of September morning drops to 3ft SW (14 sec) with a light 10 km/h SW cross-off. Clean, but small. Energy's down at 602 (weak-moderate). Afternoon jumps to 8ft SW (14 sec) with a 10 km/h cross-shore. Energy hits 3046 (strong), but it's lumpy and marginal. Pros only.
Monday the 7th is tiny and poor. Forget it.
Now, Tuesday the 8th of September morning is a beauty. 3ft SW groundswell, but check the period—18 seconds. That's a very long period groundswell. Energy is 1070 (moderate), with a light 6 km/h W cross-off. Clean. The water temp is 57°, about 1° above normal—pretty average. This is a standout: Bells will be lined up and glassy.
Wednesday the 9th of September goes huge. Morning: 8ft SSW (16 sec) with 18 km/h cross-shore. Energy 4517 (very strong). Afternoon: 13ft SW (19 sec) with 18 km/h cross-shore. Energy 16874 (extremely strong). The file says the swell is too big for the break. Big-wave only, and lumpy.
Thursday the 10th morning: 10ft SSW (17 sec) with a light 9 km/h WSW cross-off. Cleaner, but still massive. Energy 5391 (very strong). Experts only.
Friday the 11th: 6ft SSW (14 sec) with a glassy 3 km/h cross-shore morning. Energy 1389 (moderate). Decent for strong surfers.
Saturday the 12th of September morning is another standout: 6ft SSW (15 sec) groundswell, with a light 6 km/h NW offshore. Clean, energy at 1417 (moderate). The afternoon goes glassy with 5ft SW (15 sec) and no wind—perfect.
The swell fades after that. Sunday the 13th has 4ft SW (15 sec) with offshore NNW winds. Monday the 14th drops to 2ft SW. Mid-week is small and poor.
Tuesday the 15th morning has a sneaky 8ft SW (10 sec) with a NW offshore. Clean, energy 1152 (moderate). Worth a look.
The run fades to small onshore slop by Friday the 18th. A nice pulse on Sunday the 20th of September morning with 4ft SW (16 sec) and a N cross-off, clean. Afternoon: 4ft SW with a 19-sec period and NW offshore, clean. Energy 1258 (moderate). A solid finish.
Best on offer: Tuesday 8th September morning (clean, long-period, lined up) and Saturday 12th September morning (offshore, clean, solid 6ft). The big days mid-week are for the brave. Crowds at Bells Bowl are sometimes an issue, so don't expect a solo session on the standouts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, light winds from the WSW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1118 | 1105 | 1382 | 293 | 2267 | 1430 | 100 | 249 | 306 | 522 | 1207 | 5152 | 3549 | 10120 | 6739 | 5177 | 3681 | 2123 | 1389 | 1389 | 1588 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:24PM1.81m | 5:42AM1.84m | 5:04PM1.75m | 6:38AM1.73m | 5:53PM1.66m | 7:47AM1.64m | 6:58PM1.56m | 9:09AM1.59m | 8:32PM1.49m | 10:28AM1.62m | 10:16PM1.52m | 11:30AM1.68m | 11:38PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:44AM0.69m | 11:00PM0.07m | 11:26AM0.80m | 11:48PM0.15m | 12:18PM0.90m | 00:47AM0.26m | 1:27PM0.98m | 2:00AM0.37m | 3:00PM0.97m | 3:26AM0.45m | 4:31PM0.86m | 4:50AM0.47m | 5:39PM0.68m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 21 | S 7 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
1118 | 1105 | 1382 | 197 | 763 | 269 | 100 | 68 | 70 | 346 | 1207 | 1449 | 925 | 6754 | 6739 | 5177 | 3681 | 2123 | 1389 | 1389 | 1588 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | — | — | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 7 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 9 | SW 18 | — | — | S 16 | — | — | S 17 | S 17 | — | — | — | S 15 |
9 | — | — | 293 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 69 | 77 | 522 | — | — | 43 | — | — | 214 | 373 | — | — | — | 163 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 12 | S 14 | W 24 | E 9 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 112 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 306 | 202 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | WNW 4 | — | — | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | — | SW 5 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | 15 | — | — | 2267 | 1430 | 91 | 249 | — | — | 71 | 5152 | 3549 | 10120 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 555 | 524 | 358 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 200 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 519 | 630 | 679 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










