Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The start of this stretch looks pretty bleak, to be honest. The first couple of days are more about waiting than surfing. You’re looking at a small, weak East swell mixing with a bit of wind, and the tide looks questionable. It’s a frustrating way to kick things off, but that’s the coast for you.

The first real window that gets the blood pumping is the Wednesday afternoon session. We’ve got a new SSW swell pushing in. It’s not huge, around 4ft, but the period is a solid 15 seconds, which means some real groundswell energy. The wind is a light S cross-off, so the face should be clean. The combined energy jumps up to 680, which is a step up. It’s not a monster, but it’s the first sign of life.

Now, if you can wait, keep your eyes on the following Monday afternoon, the 7th of September. That’s the standout. The swell has gone absolutely mental by then. We’re looking at 15ft of S/SSE swell with a 13-14 second period. The energy reading is massive, hitting 11491, which is about as powerful as it gets. But here’s the catch: it’s big. This is not a day for the faint-hearted or anyone without a serious quiver. The wind is a cross-off, which will help keep the face somewhat together, but at this size, only the experienced crew are going to get their share. This is expert territory for sure.

Leading into that, the weekend is a write-off for good surf. The swell is there, but it’s junky, onshore, and lumpy. You’ll see 8ft plus on Saturday with an onshore ENE wind, just making a mess of things. And by Sunday, the wind swings to a strong SSW, which could hold, but the period drops and the size is still up there, making it a chaotic mix.

After that big Monday, the week settles down but still offers some fun waves. The Tuesday and Wednesday sessions (8th and 9th) have a solid size in the 10-13ft range, but the swell direction swings to the ESE, which isn’t ideal for this spot, and the wind is still cross-off. It’ll be big and powerful, but maybe a bit too lined-up for the beach break. The period stays in the 12-14 second range, so there’s plenty of push.

The real sleeper might be Thursday the 10th of September. It’s dropped a bit to around 7-8ft, the ESE swell is still going, and the wind goes light, then drops to nothing in the afternoon. That afternoon session looks glassy. The energy is still in the 1300-1900 range, which is decent, and with the clean conditions and a period of 12 seconds, that could be the best combination of size and quality all week for a competent surfer. That’s the one I’d be circling.

After that, the taps just shut off. From the 11th onwards, it’s a dying swell and onshore breezes that kill any remaining hope. The period drops, the size fades, and by the 13th through to the end of the window, it’s flat and small. The 15th even shows some strong NE wind, making it a write-off.

So, the long and short of it: wait out the first few days, paddle out for some fun but smaller stuff Wednesday afternoon, be ready for a serious, expert-only session on Monday the 7th, and then grab the last good day on Thursday the 10th. Everything else is either too small, too messy, or just plain flat.

The water’s sitting at 70°, which is about average for this time of year. No surprises there.

Stay safe out there, and don’t get caught inside when that big one shows up.

Rusty.

Read more