Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, S swell with 1,452 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 9s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the waves ahead. It’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.
First up, the standout session this week is shaping up for Tuesday afternoon at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). We’ve got a solid 7ft swell rolling in from the east, and the wind is forecast to go glassy. That’s about as good as it gets for clean conditions. The combined wave energy is solid at 931, so there’s plenty of push. This is a point break that loves a bit of east in the swell, and with glassy conditions, it should be absolutely firing. If you can get out there, that’s the call.
A quick note on the water: it’s sitting at 69°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year. Nothing too unusual, just a touch on the fresh side.
Before that, Sunday morning offers up some small but cleanish surf – 3ft from the SSW with a very long 18-second period. The energy’s moderate at 844, but it’s a cross-on breeze from the east, so it’ll be a bit bumpy. Monday looks pretty ordinary with strong winds, so not worth chasing.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday the 19th has some decent potential. Morning and afternoon both show 4ft and 4ft from the southeast, with light offshore winds from the WSW. That’s clean, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and less powerful. The energy’s moderate at 443 and 421, so it’s more of a fun-size wave for a log or a fish.
After that, the forecast gets a bit more uncertain. There’s a run of small, poor surf through the middle of the following week, with only marginal conditions showing up around Thursday the 24th. That morning sees a 5ft SSW swell with a 14-second period and light cross-shore winds, but the energy’s high at 1392, which suggests it could be a bit of a handful for the average punter. It’s worth keeping an eye on, but nothing to get too excited about just yet.
So to wrap it up: Tuesday afternoon is the clear winner. Get on it if you can. After that, there are a few windows of fun waves, but nothing that’ll blow your mind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, near gales from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 67mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | E 10 | SW 12 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 508 | 543 | 372 | 186 | 70 | 156 | 49 | 885 | 23 | 22 | 666 | 37 | 932 | 1452 | 840 | 541 | 441 | 278 | 196 | 173 | 111 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 4:58PM1.89m | 5:08AM1.73m | 5:24PM1.79m | 5:33AM1.64m | 5:48PM1.66m | 5:58AM1.52m | 6:12PM1.51m | 6:22AM1.38m | 6:35PM1.35m | 6:47AM1.22m | 7:01PM1.19m | 7:19AM1.06m | 7:46PM1.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:43AM-0.04m | 11:05PM0.04m | 11:10AM0.03m | 11:30PM0.12m | 11:36AM0.14m | 11:55PM0.23m | 12:01PM0.27m | 00:20AM0.37m | 12:26PM0.43m | 00:47AM0.52m | 12:53PM0.59m | 1:21AM0.67m | 1:30PM0.76m | 3:06AM0.82m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 23 | 14 | 10 | 11 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ENE 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 203 | 543 | 372 | 120 | 70 | 69 | 1064 | 885 | 821 | 769 | 666 | 520 | 400 | 353 | 234 | 145 | 108 | 278 | 196 | 173 | 111 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 508 | 72 | 93 | 186 | 51 | 156 | 49 | 46 | 23 | 10 | 49 | 37 | — | 48 | 44 | 57 | 33 | 136 | 103 | 78 | 92 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 10 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 67 | 50 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 22 | 26 | 23 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 33 | 144 | 170 | 86 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 66 | 294 | 510 | 1347 | 2741 | 2459 | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | 932 | 1452 | 840 | 541 | 441 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 49 | 49 | 816 | 505 | 505 | 87 | 26 | 0 | 21 | 49 | 692 | 354 | 830 | 1206 | 83 | 3 | 830 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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