Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag coming our way for the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a write-off, but there’s some real promise later on if you’re patient.

We start off with a bit of a flat spell, unfortunately. The first few days of the forecast are looking pretty grim. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th offer nothing but small, weak swell and poor conditions. The energy is low at just 314 (combined energy) on Monday morning, and even though there’s a touch of long-period swell, the wind is messy. You’d be fighting a losing battle.

It’s not until Wednesday the 29th that we see a pulse of energy coming in, but the quality is still questionable. Wednesday morning brings a 7ft swell from the SSE, but with a short period of 8 seconds, it’s going to be a bit of a lumpy, wind-affected mess, hardly worth the paddle out. The cross-offshore wind keeps it clean-looking, but the energy (1116) is just not organised.

Thursday the 30th is a bit of a washout, too. The swell hangs around 7ft to 8ft from the S, but with those short periods (9 seconds) and strong winds, it’s more of a battle than a pleasure. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 73°, but that’s about the only good thing.

Finally, we get a real standout on Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning is the one to circle. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the ESE, and the wind is a whisper-light WNW at 3 mph, giving us glassy, clean conditions. The energy is a solid 596 (combined energy), and with the swell coming from the ESE, it’s a good direction for that spot. This is the pick of the bunch. The crowd is listed as “sometimes,” so be prepared for a few others who’ve been waiting for this window.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a bit of a desert. From Monday the 3rd through to the 8th of August, the conditions are mostly poor with onshore winds and choppy surf. It’s a long stretch of nothing.

We get another glimmer on the 9th and 10th of August. The morning of the 9th sees a 5ft groundswell from the S with a period of 14 seconds, and light winds. The energy is 846 (combined energy). It’s a promising setup, but at this range, it’s a bit of a long-term promise. The 10th looks even better with a 5ft swell from the SSW and a period of 15 seconds, with a combined energy of 1091. Clean, light winds and a solid groundswell—if the forecast holds, that Tuesday morning could be special.

For the main event, Sunday the 2nd of August at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) is the one to get wet for. That 6ft ESE swell with light, glassy wind is the best on offer. The water is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a nice bonus. Don’t expect a crowd, but don’t be surprised if a few others are in the water.

Rusty.

Read more