Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 03 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: Friday 4 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,990 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Thu 3rd Sep)8ft (2.4m) 15s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 4th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 15s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 3rd Sep)15ft (4.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour for you fellas who think that way.

We’ve got some proper swell coming our way, but you gotta pick your battles. This isn't a flat spell, but it’s a game of patience, especially if you’re on a paddle board.

It starts up Thursday, September 3rd. The Bowl at Bells Beach is already cooking with a solid 15-foot SW groundswell, 14-second period. The energy is massive at 8520, but there's a 25 mph W cross-off wind. It’ll be clean, but that’s a heap of water moving. Water temp is 57°, which is a touch warmer than average.

The real standout hits on Friday the 4th. We drop to a still-chunky 8-foot SW groundswell, but the period jets to a very long 16 seconds. And the wind? Pure offshore from the NW at 9 mph. That’s the perfect mix for a point and reef like Bells. The energy is still strong at 2526. For the experienced surfer, this is the session. Expect long, clean walls and lulls between sets. The paddle out will be easier, but the waves will be lined up and powerful.

Saturday the 5th is a wash for paddling. It’s 5-foot, but a brutal 25 mph WNW wind is wrecking it. The energy drops to 1133. This is a kite-surfing day.

Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th get smaller and cleaner, around 4-foot with light cross-off winds. The energy drops to three-digit figures (849, 630). Fine for a log, but nothing to get excited about.

Then Tuesday the 8th brings another pulse. It’s 5-foot, but the period hits 18 seconds, with the energy jumping to 2269. Morning sees a light 6 mph W cross-off. That's perfect long-period swell for Bells.

But the gem, if you can wait, is Thursday the 10th. The forecast shows an 8-foot SSW groundswell, 18-second period, and... glass. Zero wind. Dead calm. Energy is at a huge 3973. This is a massive, long-period swell. At Bells, expect those long, thick walls. The glassy conditions will make it a dream. The sets will be rare, but the ones that come will be freight trains.

The second week is a mix of smaller, cleaner days. From the 11th to the 13th, it’s mostly 4-foot to 5-foot SW swells with light offshore breezes. Energy in the low 900s. Average.

Another little bump comes around the 14th and 15th. Monday the 14th shows a 6-foot SW swell, 16 seconds, with a cross-off wind, energy at 1904. Tuesday the 15th morning has a 5-foot SW swell, 18 seconds, and a light offshore. That’s clean.

But the 17th and 18th are a total blown-out mess. Onshore winds, strong, with 10-foot slop. Stay out of the water.

Bottom line: the absolute best windows are Friday the 4th (offshore, 8ft, 16 sec) and Thursday the 10th (glassy, 8ft, 18 sec). Everything else is either too windy or too weak. If you only get one, make it the 4th.

Stay sharp out there.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, strong winds from the WNW by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
7
8
5
4
4
3
2
2
5
3
3
2
1
0
2
4
1
1
1
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
SW
14
4.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
15
2.3
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
1.9
SW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.8
SW
15
3.5
SW
13
1.4
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
12
1.2
SW
13
1.9
SSW
8
1.1
SW
12
1.4
SW
18
1.5
SW
17
1.5
SW
16
1.8
SSW
16
2.1
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6808
6990
3017
2481
2328
1806
1133
1520
3975
834
595
341
451
488
324
1278
1305
1101
1588
2049
4177
Wind (km/h)
25
W
20
WSW
15
WNW
15
NW
15
NW
20
N
40
WNW
35
WNW
25
W
15
W
10
W
15
W
20
WSW
25
SSW
10
SW
10
W
15
SSW
20
S
15
S
20
S
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
3:17PM1.85m
4:11AM1.96m
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
Low Tide
9:40PM0.08m
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
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
cloud
heavy rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:01
6:02
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:07
 mm
1
11
5
2
2
Temp °C
14
14
10
14
15
15
14
13
12
13
14
12
12
12
10
13
13
12
11
11
10
Feels °C
7
8
6
8
11
10
6
6
6
10
11
9
8
6
6
10
9
9
7
7
8
  • 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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