
Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 2,895 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) this week:
The surf forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
Alright, crew, Rusty here with the lowdown for Kelso.
We're looking at a run starting on Friday, July 10th, with some serious size hitting. The combined energy is a massive 3337, coming from a 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period. That’s a proper point-break pulse. The wind is a cross-shore from the SSE, so not perfect, but there's plenty of power. Water temp is right around 72°, which is normal for this time of year.
The clear standout of the whole forecast is Saturday, July 11th. The swell settles to a very manageable 7ft from the south, still with a solid 13-second period. The wind swings to a clean cross-offshore breeze, so Kelso (Happy Wanderers) is going to be offering up some beautifully groomed lines. It's a fairly consistent spot for the intermediates, but remember the crowds can turn up when it's this good.
Sunday the 12th brings a drop to 5ft with a 12-second period, but rain showers and a cross-shore wind kill the quality. The energy is down to 801. From Monday the 13th through the middle of the week, it’s a dead zone. Onshore northeast winds and short-period, weak swells with energy readings as low as 366 mean you’re better off doing something else.
Saturday the 18th is worth a mention for the clean look from a cross-off SSW breeze, but the swell is only 4ft with moderate energy (574). It’s a surfable option if the itch is bad.
The next pulse starts building on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wednesday morning is glassy but tiny at 2ft. The real energy hits Wednesday afternoon with a 5ft SSW groundswell at 15 seconds, though a moderate cross-off wind keeps it from being perfect. The energy jumps to 1214.
Then it gets serious. Thursday the 23rd sees a 7ft south swell in the morning with a light cross-shore, but the afternoon is the big one: an 12ft SSW swell with a 12-second period and clean cross-off winds. The combined energy is a huge 3451. This is expert territory only. Friday the 24th keeps the energy high with a 8ft SSW swell and a light cross-shore, so the power is still there.
We finish up on Saturday the 25th. The swell drops to 5ft from the south, but it's a long 15-second period, and the wind is onshore. The energy is still over 1000, but the quality is fading fast.
So, your big takeaway: Saturday, July 11th is the pick for clean, fun waves. For the adrenaline junkies, Thursday the 23rd afternoon and Friday the 24th will be the big-swell window. The middle of the first week is a complete write-off.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3330 | 2895 | 2019 | 1379 | 1397 | 1092 | 683 | 555 | 293 | 228 | 245 | 336 | 252 | 253 | 506 | 481 | 610 | 608 | 541 | 449 | 327 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:56AM1.20m | 00:35AM1.42m | 1:18PM1.29m | 1:46AM1.51m | 2:21PM1.43m | 2:42AM1.61m | 3:12PM1.57m | 3:31AM1.69m | 3:59PM1.69m | 4:14AM1.74m | 4:42PM1.77m | 4:55AM1.74m | 5:22PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:57PM0.51m | 7:04AM0.45m | 7:18PM0.43m | 8:08AM0.33m | 8:23PM0.31m | 8:59AM0.21m | 9:16PM0.20m | 9:44AM0.10m | 10:04PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.03m | 10:47PM0.11m | 11:04AM0.01m | 11:28PM0.13m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
3330 | 2895 | 2019 | 1379 | 1397 | 1092 | 683 | 555 | 121 | 228 | 245 | 336 | 252 | 253 | 506 | 481 | 610 | 608 | 541 | 449 | 327 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 5 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SE 8 | E 8 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 |
32 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 62 | 59 | 37 | 293 | 205 | 198 | 138 | 84 | 169 | 29 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 325 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | — | E 7 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 7 | S 7 | SE 11 | — | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSE 8 |
7 | 7 | — | — | — | 26 | 14 | 13 | 63 | 28 | 5 | — | 30 | 28 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | 94 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 354 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 49 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 14 | 36 | 49 | 0 | 14 | 49 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kelso (Happy Wanderers) 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 (Kelso (Happy Wanderers)) 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 Kelso (Happy Wanderers) 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.
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) is 5 km (3 miles) from Scottburgh. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Scottburgh. Scottburgh has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










