Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 5,733 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period with S 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer around here. The coming week is a mixed bag, but there are a couple of moments that will get the heart rate up. The first real swell of note shows up on Wednesday morning, so let’s start there.
Wednesday 26 August is the standout. Kelso (Happy Wanderers) is a point break that handles a SSW swell well, and we’ve got a 6ft SSW groundswell with a very long period of 17 seconds pushing in. The combined energy is strong, at 1659. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW at just 3 mph, which is basically glassy. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. That very long period will mean the waves have real power and shape, but at a point break like this, it’s a dream setup. Get in the water.
Wednesday afternoon sees the swell bump up to 8ft, but the wind swings cross-on from the ESE, and the wave energy jumps to 3527. That’s strong, but the conditions get messy. This one is for experts only, and the chop will make it a battle.
Thursday 27 August has a 8ft SSW swell in the morning, but a strong NE wind at 22 mph makes it a write-off. The energy is still high (2145), but the surf is poor. Friday and Saturday are similar with strong onshore winds and dropping swell. No good.
Sunday 30 August afternoon shows a 10ft S swell but with a short period of only 7 seconds. That’s a windswell – all power, no shape, and it’s lumpy. The energy is moderate (859), but it’s not for paddling. More of a kite-surfing setup if you’re into that.
The first week of September sees a few small, weak swells, but the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with poor surf conditions. Thursday 3 September afternoon has a 4ft SSW groundswell at 16 seconds, but the wind is light onshore from the ENE. The energy is moderate (788), but the onshore wind kills it. It’s a maybe, but not a standout.
The only real standout in the whole 16-day window is that Wednesday morning. The rest is a lot of waiting for the right wind. The gap after Wednesday is significant – several days of poor surf before the next marginal chance arrives.
Get out there on Wednesday morning. It’s the best we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, strong winds from the NE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | S 17 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3291 | 1733 | 770 | 484 | 327 | 81 | 227 | 554 | 756 | 1318 | 1649 | 3527 | 5407 | 1901 | 1264 | 813 | 584 | 420 | 278 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:57AM1.08m | 1:47PM1.11m | 1:55AM1.23m | 2:24PM1.27m | 2:29AM1.37m | 2:52PM1.43m | 2:58AM1.51m | 3:19PM1.58m | 3:25AM1.62m | 3:44PM1.71m | 3:51AM1.71m | 4:10PM1.81m | 4:18AM1.76m | ||||||
Low Tide | 7:32AM0.69m | 7:46PM0.67m | 8:12AM0.53m | 8:23PM0.53m | 8:41AM0.38m | 8:53PM0.39m | 9:06AM0.24m | 9:20PM0.26m | 9:31AM0.12m | 9:47PM0.16m | 9:57AM0.03m | 10:15PM0.08m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 5:35 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | S 17 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 20 | 8 | 770 | 484 | 327 | 81 | 79 | 554 | 756 | 1318 | 1649 | 3527 | 5407 | 1901 | 1264 | 813 | 584 | 420 | 278 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 17 | NE 4 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | S 13 | — | — | S 15 |
| kJ | 13 | — | 6 | 6 | 15 | 78 | 227 | 3 | 29 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 498 | — | — | 113 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NE 4 | SSE 11 | ENE 4 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 14 | 27 | 45 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | S 9 | S 4 | — | — | — | E 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 3291 | 1733 | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 97 | 12 | — | — | — | 28 | 244 | 444 | 740 | 769 | 1241 | 1019 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 635 | 279 | 235 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 187 | 187 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 21 | 816 | 811 | 373 | 426 | 652 | 383 |
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.
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