Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

We've got Bowls on the radar, but honestly, the next couple of days are flat and useless for a surf. There's nothing at all on Monday, so we're sitting it out. The first real chance of a wave shows up on Tuesday the 4th of August.

Tuesday morning we see a 4ft groundswell out of the east with a very long period of 18 seconds. That's a classic groundswell, which at a reef like Bowls should set up nicely. The combined energy is moderate at 733, and with a gentle offshore breeze from the NE, it's going to be clean. It'll be good for experienced surfers. Tuesday afternoon the swell bumps up to 4ft from the same direction, period still 17 seconds, and the energy jumps to a strong 1009. Offshore wind holds, so this is a solid window.

The standout, without a doubt, is Wednesday the 5th of August. The morning session is where it's at. We're looking at a 7ft swell from the east, that very long 18-second period, and the combined energy is cranking at 2587 – strong and full of push. The wind is offshore from the NE at 12 mph. That's the kind of day that makes you rearrange your schedule. It's not for beginners – 7ft is in the advanced zone – but for those who know what they're doing, this is the best on offer. Watch though, that afternoon the wind shifts cross-off and the quality drops.

From Thursday the 6th onwards, things go downhill quickly. The swell gets big – we're talking 12ft to 13ft on Thursday with gale-force cross-off winds. It’s a mess. By Friday the 7th of August, a severe gale from the NNW kicks up a massive 25ft to 34ft swell with hurricane-force winds later in the day. That's a definite stay-on-land situation; no sane paddler is touching that. The entire weekend through to the second week is a write-off with violent storms, onshore winds, and big, dangerous surf. There's a brief glimmer on the 14th of August with a small 3ft east-northeast groundswell (12-second period) and clean cross-off winds, but the energy is weak at 324. It's a long way off and not worth getting excited about.

For the whole second week, it's just small, weak, or messy. Bowls is a sheltered reef, so it takes a specific window to work, and that window slams shut after Wednesday. No other recommendations came through, so that Wednesday morning is your one and only true standout.

Rusty.

Read more