Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 06 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.5° C
0.4° 

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 6 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,804 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 (Aug 07) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 15s 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 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 7th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf 4PM (Thu 13th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 13th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour.

We’re starting off a bit slow, but there’s some real magic on the horizon. The first solid session kicks off Thursday afternoon, August 6th, with a clean, moderate offshore breeze out of the northwest. Wave heights are only around 2 feet, but that’s a long-period SW groundswell (16 seconds) with a combined energy of 206, so it’s got a bit of push for its size. The water temp is sitting at about 56°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The standout in the first week is without a doubt Friday, August 7th. Friday morning at Bells Beach - Bowl, we’ve got light NW offshore winds, almost glassy, and a clean 4-foot SW groundswell with a 16-second period. The energy jumps to 575, and it’s going to be proper. Friday afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze, still holding around 3 feet. That’s your best bet for the early run.

Saturday the 8th drops off a bit with moderate cross-off winds and some questionable tide conditions, but the swell is still around 3 feet. Sunday the 9th is a write-off – light rain, fresh breezes, and poor conditions.

Now, Monday the 10th gets interesting but messy. A big 10-foot SW swell rolls in Monday morning, but it’s a short-period 9-second wind swell with a massive 2745 energy reading. The wind is a cross-off, but it’s fresh, and the quality is marginal. That’s more of a “look but don’t paddle” kind of day unless you’re keen on a challenge. Monday afternoon settles to 4 feet but still marginal.

The real gem of the entire outlook lands on Thursday, August 13th. Thursday afternoon, we’ve got a 10-foot SW groundswell with a 15-second period, and the energy is skyrocketing to 5264. The wind is a gentle cross-off from the SW, and the forecast is calling for exceptional surf conditions – but only for expert surfers. That’s a big, powerful, long-period swell at a reef and point break. It’s going to be thick, hollow, and demanding. If you’re advanced, you’ll be frothing. For everyone else, it’s a spectator sport.

Friday the 14th still has big swell (10 feet in the morning, 8 feet in the afternoon), but wind and tide conditions keep it marginal. Saturday the 15th turns choppy with cross-onshore winds, so that’s a no-go.

The second week fades out. From Sunday the 16th onward, the swell drops back to 3 feet or less, with some light onshore winds and mostly clean but small conditions. There’s a brief window on Wednesday the 19th with light offshore winds and 2 feet, 16-second swell – clean and fun for a small wave log, but nothing to get too excited about.

Overall, the clear standout is Thursday afternoon, August 13th. That’s your big, clean, expert-level session at Bells Beach - Bowl. The SW direction is spot-on for the break, and the combined energy is absolutely pumping. Crowds are possible, so get in early if you’ve got the skills.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NNE by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Mainly near gales.

Thu
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
0
0
3
2
2
4
2
0
1
2
3
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SW
18
1.1
SW
16
1
SW
15
1
SW
18
1
SW
16
1
SW
16
0.8
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
1
SW
20
3
SW
9
1.3
SW
17
1.6
SW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
1.6
SW
16
2.4
SSW
16
1.6
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
201
300
546
427
588
492
468
297
189
111
792
1299
1062
1194
606
453
341
1303
2928
1383
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
15
WSW
10
NW
10
WSW
10
NNW
20
N
20
N
25
N
30
NNE
25
NNE
20
WSW
35
WSW
25
W
20
NW
20
NNW
25
N
35
N
25
WNW
30
W
40
WSW
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-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
10:45PM0.19m
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
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:18
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:42
5:43
 mm
3
2
6
15
1
2
3
2
Temp °C
13
11
13
14
13
15
14
14
11
11
11
12
13
11
13
14
14
12
8
10
Feels °C
8
8
10
11
10
10
10
10
4
6
7
5
7
6
7
8
7
5
1
1
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  • 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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