Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,121 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period with E 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s happening at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). This is a point break in the Kelso area, pretty consistent, and it likes a south swell with a cross-offshore wind from the WSW. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are a few sessions worth getting wet for.
Things kick off on Wednesday, 15 July. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the east with a 10-second period, and wave energy is moderate (738). The wind is a cross-off from the south, so it’s clean. The morning is just okay, but Wednesday afternoon the energy picks up a little (782) and the surf is looking very good. That’s your first real highlight.
The next good window is Monday, 20 July. The morning brings a clean 5ft south-southeast swell at 11 seconds, with a gentle south cross-off. The energy is strong (906), and the call is for very good surf. That’s another winner.
Before that, Friday, 17 July afternoon has a small but clean 4ft east swell. Saturday, 18 July bumps up to 5ft from the south, but the wind turns cross-on from the northeast, making it choppy and poor. Sunday, 19 July morning has a 6ft south swell at 12 seconds, but again, cross-on wind ruins it.
After Monday, it goes downhill. Tuesday, 21 July is flat. Wednesday, 22 July has a 8ft south-southwest swell with a very long 17-second period — that’s a groundswell — and energy is massive at 3646. But the wind is onshore, so it’s only marginal. Thursday, 23 July has a 5ft swell but a 45 km/h south-southwest cross-off, way too windy for clean waves. The rest of that week and into the next is mostly poor with onshore breezes.
The forecast ends on a high note. On Monday, 27 July, the afternoon goes glassy — a 6ft south swell at 11 seconds, with the wind dropping to a slight air and the ocean turning glassy. Energy is 825, and the surf is very good. That’s a long-range promise, more than a week out, so don’t book your flights yet, but it’s a solid lead.
The water temp is about normal for this time of year.
The best bets are Wednesday afternoon, 15 July, and Monday morning, 20 July. The 27 July glassy session is a standout but less certain. The rest is a lot of onshore junk.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 710 | 753 | 730 | 524 | 386 | 327 | 279 | 234 | 352 | 268 | 694 | 617 | 827 | 652 | 1405 | 554 | 320 | 303 | 254 | 268 | 1277 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:42PM1.77m | 4:55AM1.74m | 5:22PM1.80m | 5:33AM1.70m | 6:01PM1.78m | 6:10AM1.62m | 6:39PM1.71m | 6:45AM1.52m | 7:16PM1.60m | 7:21AM1.40m | 7:54PM1.47m | 8:01AM1.27m | 8:37PM1.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:25AM0.03m | 10:47PM0.11m | 11:04AM0.01m | 11:28PM0.13m | 11:41AM0.03m | 00:08AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.09m | 00:46AM0.28m | 12:52PM0.20m | 1:24AM0.39m | 1:28PM0.33m | 2:04AM0.50m | 2:07PM0.47m | 2:53AM0.61m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 710 | 753 | 730 | 524 | 386 | 327 | 279 | 234 | 233 | 268 | 694 | 617 | 827 | 652 | 48 | 554 | 320 | 303 | 254 | 268 | 1277 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 14 | ENE 10 | E 10 | SW 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | ENE 6 | SSW 12 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 18 | 17 | 20 | 34 | 92 | 223 | 103 | 85 | 352 | 192 | 156 | 571 | 160 | 94 | 44 | 165 | 84 | 114 | 49 | 156 | 217 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSE 11 | SSW 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 12 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 18 | — | S 14 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 15 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSW 13 | SE 12 | E 9 | SSW 12 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 10 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 6 | — | 102 | 194 | 121 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 68 | 144 | 15 | 167 | 18 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 | — | — | S 11 | — | NE 6 | NE 5 | SW 2 | S 5 | — |
| kJ | — | 15 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 22 | — | — | 1405 | — | 1 | 65 | 1 | 66 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 49 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 49 | 14 | 21 | 110 | 187 | 0 | 49 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
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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