Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a gap of about 4 days with nothing really worth paddling out for. The biggest issue is the wind and the quality of the surf. The first real chance to wet a line looks like Friday the 4th, but it’s a proper heavy-duty session.

The standout of the whole forecast is Friday the 4th at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). That morning, we’ve got a solid 10 ft swell rolling in from the south, with a cross-offshore breeze keeping things clean. The combined energy is pumping hard at 1180 (moderate to strong). It’s a big day, over 8 ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew – beginners, leave this one alone. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit of a wind-swell, lumpy and powerful, but the clean wind makes it hook into that point. The afternoon pushes it up to 12 ft, with energy hitting 2314 (strong), still from the south but with a 10-second period. Same story – big, powerful, and for experts only. Because it’s fairly consistent and the wind is clean, this is the best on offer for the whole run.

Saturday the 5th is a step down. The swell drops to 8 ft from the SSE, but the wind swings onshore from the ENE, making it a messy cross-on. The energy is still there at 1071 (moderate to strong), but the quality is marginal. Not your day.

Sunday the 6th is a bust – onshore wind and dropping swell, with energy in the 650 range (moderate). Monday the 7th is a no-go. A massive 8 ft to 7 ft swell from the south, with period hitting 17 seconds (very long groundswell), but the wind is howling from the NNE and NE at 22-19 mph, creating a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. The combined energy is 4566 (very strong), but it’s unsurfable. This setup would be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The rest of that week and into the second week is quiet. Tuesday the 8th through to Thursday the 10th are all poor, with tiny swell, onshore wind, and low energy readings. Friday the 11th shows a 6 ft to 6 ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a short 6-7 seconds, and while the wind is cross-off, the quality is only “ordinary.” Not one to get excited about.

The next real glimmer is a week later, on Monday the 14th. That morning at Kelso, we’ve got a 4 ft swell from the south with a 14-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. The combined energy is 962 (moderate), and the conditions are expected to be very good. This is a proper long-period groundswell, so it’ll peel nicely along that point. Still, it’s over a week away, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The afternoon turns messy with an onshore breeze, so hit the dawn session.

Tuesday the 15th has a small 3 ft swell from the SSW with a 12-second period, clean with a cross-off breeze, but it’s a mellow day. The rest of the second week is a mix of small, marginal, or poor days, with wind either too strong or from the wrong direction.

The water temp is sitting about 70°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year – no anomaly to speak of.

So, to wrap it up: if you’re an expert, Friday the 4th is your day for big, clean, powerful waves at Kelso. Keep an eye on the morning of Monday the 14th for a glassy, long-period session. The rest is a bit of a frustrating wait.

Rusty.

Read more