Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 04 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.8°C
0.9° 

Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 21,065 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 4th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 1PM (Wed 9th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 19s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 9th Sep)18ft (5.5m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the coming days.

We've got a classic setup unfolding at Bells Beach - Bowl. A solid SW groundswell is on the way, and the opening of the period is a real standout. The early action kicks off on Friday, the 4th of September. The morning is looking prime with a clean 7.2ft SW swell pushing in with a long 16-second period, producing moderate wave energy (2357). The wind is a clean offshore from the NW, a gentle breeze, so the faces will be pure. This is a reef and point, so that long period is going to wrap in beautifully, offering up some proper lines. This is advanced territory at that size, so it's for the experienced crew only. It can get a bit crowded here sometimes, but early on a Friday might be your best bet. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The afternoon holds up well too, with the same swell dropping slightly to 6.9ft and the wind staying offshore. Saturday the 5th, the wind picks up strong out of the NW, making it a battle to paddle into, but the 5.2ft SW swell is still in the water. The quality drops right off after that until Sunday the 6th. That morning is a real standout. The swell jumps back up to a solid 9.8ft from the SW, with a 14-second period and very strong wave energy (4032). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. That's a big one for the Bowl, so it's for the experts only. The afternoon sees the swell drop and the wind go cross, so the window is tight.

The following week eases off. A few smaller days with clean conditions, like Monday the 7th (2.6ft) and a real glassy morning on Tuesday the 8th with a 4.6ft SSW groundswell that has a very long 18-second period, producing strong energy (2247). That glassy surface is a huge positive, but the long period might make it a bit straighter on the Bowl's bank. The wind changes on the 9th, bringing side-onshore winds and a building swell, which makes the ocean look lumpy. By Wednesday the 9th afternoon, the swell hits 9.8ft, but with a fresh cross-onshore, it's a messy, blown-out affair.

The second week has a few moments. Tuesday the 15th sees a fresh offshore wind with a 9.8ft SW swell, but the period is a shorter 11 seconds, so it might be a bit lumpy. The real standout for the second week is Wednesday the 16th. The morning has a clean 5.2ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, gentle offshore wind, and excellent conditions. The energy is moderate (1670). That's a gem in the middle of the week. We finish with a monster on Thursday the 17th of September, with an 18ft SW swell, but that's way too big for the break, even for the diehards. The 18th and 19th see the swell drop back, but the wind is still messy.

If you're looking for the best of the best, lock in the Friday the 4th morning and the Sunday the 6th morning. The Tuesday the 8th morning has that glassy appeal, and the Wednesday the 16th is a solid long-range promise.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sat morning, light winds from the WSW by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
1
2
5
2
2
2
0
3
4
3
4
4
!
6
5
0
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.9
SW
12
3
SW
14
1.2
SW
14
0.9
SSW
14
1.4
SW
12
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
20
0.9
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
3
SW
16
3
SSW
17
4.5
SW
19
3.5
SSW
19
3
SSW
18
3
SSW
16
2.1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2314
2299
1806
1118
1105
1118
3420
573
328
603
105
306
522
1073
4717
4652
13484
9448
5885
4055
2200
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
15
NW
20
N
35
NW
35
WNW
30
WSW
15
WSW
15
SSW
15
W
15
SW
20
SSW
10
WSW
10
NW
10
SW
30
SW
35
SSW
35
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSW
25
SSW
10
WSW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
3:49PM1.84m
4:54AM1.92m
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
Low Tide
10:05AM0.60m
10:18PM0.05m
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
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:02
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
 mm
4
3
2
Temp °C
14
15
15
15
13
13
14
14
11
13
11
10
12
13
9
11
11
11
12
11
10
Feels °C
8
11
10
9
6
6
11
11
8
9
6
7
9
10
5
2
2
6
7
6
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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