
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 18s period, SW swell with 9,524 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period with SSW 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 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 14s. 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 4.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Bells Beach – Bowl. The water’s sitting at 57°F, pretty average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
The first surf window is Saturday morning, September 5th. There’s a 5ft SW groundswell with a long 15-second period, combined energy at 1203 (strong). The wind is a fresh 22 mph offshore from the NW – clean but strong. It’ll be a paddle workout, but it’s on for the advanced crew.
Sunday the 6th is where the real action starts. The morning is 5ft SSW with a shorter period, nothing special. But Sunday afternoon, that’s a highlight. Swell bumps to 8ft SW with a 14-second period, combined energy 3154 (very strong). Light cross-offshore wind at 6 mph. This is big, powerful, and clean – only for experienced surfers, but it’s a proper session.
Monday the 7th morning is tiny – 2ft – and the afternoon turns onshore and choppy. Tuesday the 8th morning brings back a very long 18-second period SW groundswell at 3ft, combined energy 1070 (moderate), with light offshore wind. Clean but small.
Wednesday the 9th afternoon sees another big pulse – 10ft SSW with a 19-second period, combined energy 7165 (very strong). But the wind is cross-shore and fresh at 16 mph, so it’s lumpy and for experts only. Thursday the 10th holds similar size but with onshore chop.
There’s a quiet stretch from Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 15th – tiny swell and messy conditions. Wednesday the 16th afternoon hits 12ft with onshore wind – that’s a beast, but not friendly.
The standout is Friday, September 18th. Both morning and afternoon are clean with light offshore wind, 7ft and 6ft SW swell with 15-second periods. Combined energy at 2014 and 1659 (strong). That’s consistent, powerful, and clean. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.
The final Sunday, September 20th, ends with 10ft SW and clean conditions in the afternoon – a big, clean finish.
Best bets: Sunday afternoon the 6th for a big clean groundswell, and Friday the 18th for the cleanest, most consistent power.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 11 | SSW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1203 | 1105 | 1685 | 300 | 2379 | 316 | 128 | 214 | 306 | 522 | 1073 | 1449 | 1611 | 6826 | 6317 | 5729 | 3771 | 2330 | 1488 | 1525 | 1856 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | glassy |
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 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 21 | S 9 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
1203 | 1105 | 1657 | 300 | 763 | 316 | 128 | 67 | 154 | 346 | 1073 | 1449 | 1611 | 339 | 6317 | 5729 | 3771 | 2330 | 1488 | 1525 | 1856 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | — | — | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 12 | SW 18 | — | S 26 | SW 21 | — | S 19 | S 19 | — | S 16 | — | — | S 15 |
24 | — | — | 293 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 154 | 120 | 522 | — | 13 | 652 | — | 460 | 244 | — | 181 | — | — | 218 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 12 | — | W 24 | — | E 9 | SW 20 | SW 13 | — | SW 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 67 | — | 11 | — | 2 | 306 | 202 | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 11 | — | SW 14 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | SSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | 14 | 1685 | — | 2379 | 105 | 100 | 214 | — | — | — | — | 732 | 6826 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 555 | 524 | 358 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 200 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 630 | 1385 | 0 | 5 | 230 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 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.










