Bells Beach • Statistics for February

February: Still Slow, But the Groundswell Seeds Are There

February remains locked in the summer pattern, with the average swell height at 1.3m (4ft) and the average period still on the low side at 11.2 seconds. The wave distribution is again top-heavy with SSW and SW swell, at 39.1% and 32.6% respectively, while S swell takes up 10.9% and SE another 8.0%. Most waves sit in the playful 1-1.5m range, with a decent secondary amount of 0.5-1m, meaning plenty of groveling conditions unless a better band of longer-period groundswell arrives.

Onshore wind remains the main limiting factor. SE wind blows 13.9% of the time, SSE 15.6% and S 12.1%, often creating lumpy surface conditions and closing out the more exposed sections. Ideal offshore conditions are rare at 23%, the lowest of the year alongside January. Water temperature reaches 19.2°C, the warmest of the year, which adds to the summertime feel. Bells is not the priority in February, but there are still occasional SSW swell pulses that, with a morning N/NW offshore, can deliver clean head-high-plus waves.