Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s, uh, see what we’ve got for Kelso and the gang up at Happy Wanderers. It’s a bit of a waiting game, to be honest.

Alright, so the outlook starts on Friday, 4th September. We’re looking at a solid 10-foot swell from the south, but that’s coming with a stiff 19 mph southerly wind. Gives us a cross-off, but that wind is a howler – it’s going to be tough. The water is a pleasant 71°F, pretty much normal for this time of year. The energy is massive, 1897, but the conditions are marginal. Not a great start.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Saturday the 5th through to Thursday the 11th, it’s mostly poor. There’s a tease on Monday the 7th with a 10-foot south swell, period of 17 seconds, and massive energy (5995), but it’s choppy. A couple of clean-looking windows pop up, like Thursday afternoon the 10th with a tiny 2-foot south-east swell, but it’s just not worth the paddle. You’d be fighting for nothing.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Saturday the 12th. We get a 4-foot east swell, 9-second period, with light southerly winds – clean conditions. The energy is moderate at 334. It’s not huge, but it’s the first time the stars align. Best bet for a sneaky session, though don’t expect the world.

Sunday the 13th is a write-off with strong winds, but then we get a nice little window on Monday the 14th. A 7-foot south-southwest swell with a short 8-second period, but the wind is a clean cross-off from the south-southwest. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride, but the clean wind helps. The energy is 704. This is intermediate territory; the size is manageable.

Then, Tuesday the 15th morning is a standout. We’ve got a 4-foot south-southwest groundswell, 12-second period, and the wind is a light offshore from the southwest. Glassy. The energy is 478. This is clean, inviting, and the swell direction is right. This is the real pick of the forecast. The period is long enough to give shape, but it’s not so long that it will shut down the point. It’s consistent and clean. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might see a few others, but that’s fine for a spot like this.

The rest of the week is a bit messy again. Wednesday the 16th is onshore, Thursday the 17th is okay but the swell drops. Then we get another big one on Friday the 18th. A 10-foot south-southwest swell, 9-second period, and light southwest winds – clean. The energy is 1726. This is for the experienced crew only. At 10 feet, it’s going to be a handful, and the shorter period will make it a bit walled up. The morning is the pick, as the afternoon adds a cross-shore wind. This is a big, powerful, expert-only day.

Saturday the 19th is a washout with strong north-easterlies. So, the forecast is a bit of a slow burn. The first week is a bust, but the second week offers a couple of proper windows. The Tuesday the 15th morning is the easy winner – clean, long-period, and a good size. The Friday the 18th is for the big dogs only.

Rusty out.

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