Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, same spot, just in feet and miles per hour for the Yanks.

We’ve got Bells Beach – Bowl in the crosshairs. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.

That combined swell energy reading *4119* on Saturday the 22nd tells you there’s some serious power in the water. Swell direction is southwest, which is the gold standard here.

Saturday morning, August 22 – we’re looking at 8ft swell from the SW with a 13-second period. The wind is cross-off from the WSW at 15 mph. It’s clean, but a little lumpy. By the afternoon it’s up to 13ft SW with a 14-second period – that’s big wave territory, and it’s choppy with a cross-shore wind. Experts only.

Sunday morning, August 23 – this is the one. The wind swings to a light offshore from the NW at 6 mph. The swell is a manageable 5ft from the SW with a 14-second period. Dead clean. That’s the session to write home about. The afternoon holds at 5ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period and a light cross-off – still great, but the morning is king.

Monday, August 24 – small. 4ft in the morning, dropping to 3ft by the afternoon with a light offshore. Tiny but clean.

Tuesday, August 25 – onshore wind ruins it.

Wednesday and Thursday (Aug 26-27) – poor, though Thursday afternoon goes glassy with about 3ft from the SSW. Tiny and clean if you’re on a longboard.

Friday, August 28 – a return to form. Morning has 4ft from the SW with a 17-second period and a clean offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. Beautiful lines. Afternoon stays good at 4ft.

Saturday, August 29 – onshore and messy.

Sunday, August 30 – morning brings 5ft from the SSW with a very long 19-second period, but the wind is a cross-onshore from the south. Afternoon jumps to 8ft from the SSW at 18 seconds, same wind. Big and unruly.

Monday, August 31 – morning is glassy with a 6ft SSW swell, 16-second period. No wind. That’s your second standout. Perfect conditions.

September 1st – 6ft SW swell, 15 seconds, cross-off from the west at 12 mph. Clean in the morning.

September 2nd – onshore junk.

September 3rd – 3ft SW in the morning, clean. Afternoon goes offshore from the NW at 6 mph with 4ft SW swell, 15 seconds. Good.

September 4th – 7ft SSW in the morning, 15 seconds, clean. Afternoon goes cross-shore and bumpy.

September 5th – 4ft SW in the morning, clean. Glassy 3ft SSW in the afternoon.

September 6th (Sunday) – 4ft SW, 16 seconds, clean cross-off. A solid finish.

Best of the bunch: Sunday morning, August 23 – that light offshore wind, 5ft SW swell at Bells Bowl is a dream. Backup is Monday morning, August 31 – glassy and 6ft of clean groundswell.

Anytime it’s pushing 8ft or more here, it’s expert territory. The long-period swells (15 seconds and over) feather perfectly along that reef – absolute joy. The place holds swell consistently and is exposed to the SW, so there’s always something. Expect company on the prime days.

Rusty.

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