Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 17,825 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 5.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at the Bowl.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start with some clean but small waves on Thursday morning, only 2ft of SW groundswell. The energy is weak (221), but the NW wind is offshore, so it’s not a total write-off. Thursday afternoon stays small and clean. The real standout is Friday morning at Bells Beach - Bowl. We’re looking at 4ft of SW swell with a 16-second period, pumping in with 575 of moderate energy. The wind is glassy out of the WNW, 3 mph, so the surface will be like a mirror. Friday afternoon stays glassy with 3ft surf. That’s the pick of the early period.
Saturday and Sunday look messy with cross-off winds and some rain, and the swell drops off. The water is sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year.
Now, hold onto your board. Monday afternoon, August 10th, sees a serious jump. The swell hits 6ft from the SW, with a 17-second period and energy roaring at 2275. It’s a moderate offshore wind from the WNW, keeping it clean. This is a big groundswell, and the longer period means it’s best on a reef or point like this, but it might wall up at the Bowl. Not for beginners—this is for experienced surfers.
The real beast arrives on August 13th, Thursday. Thursday morning is 12ft of SW swell (8167 energy), but it’s cross-shore and lumpy. Thursday afternoon the swell jacks to 18ft from the WSW, with energy through the roof at 23107. The wind is cross-off and clean, but this is too big for the break. Only for absolute experts, and even then, it’s a washing machine. Monday through Wednesday of the second week drops back to 3-6ft, with onshore winds making it messy. There’s a gap of poor surf from Saturday 15th through Monday 17th morning.
Tuesday, August 18th, offers a glimmer. Morning glassy conditions with 4ft of SW groundswell (492 energy). That’s clean and fun. Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, is decent too: 4ft SW, clean with light cross-off winds. The standouts are clear: Friday the 7th for clean, glassy fun, and Monday the 10th afternoon for the bigger, more powerful groundswell. The 13th is for the brave and the stupid.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NNE by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 203 | 201 | 300 | 546 | 427 | 588 | 492 | 406 | 297 | 192 | 111 | 895 | 1123 | 1702 | 1082 | 598 | 453 | 393 | 1769 | 1729 | 3911 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:16PM1.83m | 5:15AM1.81m | 4:48PM1.80m | 6:04AM1.79m | 5:24PM1.75m | 7:02AM1.74m | 6:09PM1.69m | 8:12AM1.69m | 7:06PM1.62m | 9:32AM1.68m | 8:25PM1.55m | 10:50AM1.72m | 9:59PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:22AM0.60m | 10:45PM0.19m | 11:02AM0.70m | 11:24PM0.14m | 11:46AM0.81m | 00:11AM0.13m | 12:38PM0.93m | 1:07AM0.16m | 1:45PM1.02m | 2:14AM0.21m | 3:11PM1.05m | 3:33AM0.25m | 4:42PM0.98m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 203 | 201 | 300 | 546 | 427 | 588 | 492 | 406 | 297 | 192 | 111 | 895 | 1123 | 1702 | 1082 | 598 | 453 | 393 | 1769 | 1729 | 3911 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | S 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 19 | SSW 6 | — | S 16 | — | SW 18 | SW 17 | E 7 | SSW 8 | SW 10 | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | 5 | 34 | 24 | 183 | 8 | — | 5 | — | 13 | 107 | 3 | 179 | 573 | 25 | 4 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | E 9 | SW 14 | S 16 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | 73 | 5 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 282 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | — | SW 7 | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | SW 6 | WNW 3 | — | — | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 77 | — | — | — | 5 | 9 | 6 | 34 | 47 | 124 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 9 | 236 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 519 | 524 | 32 | 329 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest