Surf Forecasts:
The Three Bears surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, W swell with 9,652 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Three Bears this week:
The surf forecast for The Three Bears over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Three Bears in the next 16 days are 4.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AWST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Three Bears over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards at The Three Bears, but you’ll have to be patient through the early part of the period. The forecast kicks off on Thursday, August 20th, but conditions are a bit ugly with a 10ft WSW swell and a strong cross-onshore wind. The water sits at 66°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than usual for this time of year—nothing crazy, but a touch on the balmy side. The combined swell energy is very strong at 4161. It’s a messy start, so I’d sit this one out.
The real action starts to clean up on Friday, August 21st. Early morning we get a crisp ESE offshore breeze, 8ft of WSW groundswell, and a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is still pumping at 2772. This is proper groundswell stuff, and for a reef like The Three Bears, that long period is going to line up some really nice, powerful walls. It’s going to be a bit hefty for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is the standout window. The wind is light and clean, making for some excellent conditions.
Saturday morning, August 22nd, is still rideable with a 7ft swell, but the wind swings cross-shore and the energy drops to 2228. It’s not terrible, but nowhere near as good as Friday. By Saturday afternoon the wind picks up to 19 mph, and conditions get lumpy. Sunday is a write-off with strong cross-shore winds and messy waves.
The next real highlight hits on Monday, August 24th. The morning brings a light NE cross-offshore breeze, a 7ft WSW swell, and a great 14-second period. The energy is moderate at 1744, but the clean conditions and solid swell will make for a super fun session. This is another excellent window for experienced surfers, and the crowds are only there sometimes, so you might score a bit of space.
Tuesday, August 25th, sees the swell drop to 5ft, but the wind turns onshore and choppy, so it’s a pass. Things go downhill fast from Wednesday, August 26th, through to the end of August. We get a massive 13ft WSW swell and near-gale force onshore winds, with combined energy spiking to a massive 14336. That’s way too big and messy for paddle surfing—this setup is more interesting for kite surfers. The conditions stay rough and unruly through the rest of the month.
Now, a glimmer of hope: on Friday, August 28th, the morning goes glassy with a calm wind. The swell is a manageable 7ft with a 13-second period and 1514 energy. That’s a clean, glassy morning for experienced surfers, and it’s a real treat after the stretch of bad weather. Grab it if you can.
The first week of September is a mixed bag. The swells are consistently in the 8ft to 12ft range, but the wind is mostly onshore or strong cross-onshore, making for poor, lumpy conditions. The best bet in the second week is Friday, September 4th, with a 10ft WSW swell, a gentle offshore wind, and a 15-second period. The combined energy is 4015. It’s a big, long-period groundswell, and the offshore wind will make it clean, but this is strictly for experts. The conditions are still a bit marginal with the wind, so keep expectations in check.
Overall, the standouts are clear: Friday morning, August 21st, and Monday morning, August 24th, are your best bets. The glassy morning on August 28th is a bonus. The rest is either blown out, too big, or just average.
Stay sharp, and keep an eye on that Friday morning slot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue night, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4161 | 3803 | 3484 | 2717 | 2680 | 1900 | 2228 | 1766 | 1028 | 1235 | 1393 | 2913 | 1744 | 1170 | 762 | 511 | 1699 | 4318 | 8845 | 8744 | 8483 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:50AM0.59m | 5:23AM0.61m | 6:25AM0.64m | 7:12AM0.66m | 7:52AM0.68m | 8:27AM0.69m | |||||||||||||||
Low Tide | 3:15PM0.12m | 3:33PM0.10m | 3:52PM0.08m | 4:12PM0.07m | 4:30PM0.07m | 4:45PM0.08m | 4:56PM0.10m | ||||||||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 17 | — |
4161 | 3803 | 3484 | 2717 | 2680 | 1900 | 2228 | 1766 | 1028 | 1235 | 1180 | 2913 | 1744 | 1170 | 762 | 511 | 1699 | 4318 | 8845 | 8744 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 24 | WSW 22 | WSW 18 | — | — | WSW 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 55 | 181 | 1118 | — | — | 75 | 333 | 1393 | — | — | — | — | 326 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | W 18 | — | WSW 16 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 150 | 5491 | — | 8483 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1686 | 5 | 5 | 1686 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 66 | 86 | 86 | 224 | 1305 | 1686 | 1686 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Margaret River | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Three Bears Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Three Bears provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Three Bears can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Three Bears 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 (The Three Bears) 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 The Three Bears 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.
The Three Bears is 64 km (40 miles) from the city of Bunbury. If you plan a holiday in Margaret River, look for hotels and other accommodation in Bunbury. Bunbury has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











