Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, E swell with 854 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. 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 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore 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 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's cooking for Kelso (Happy Wanderers). It’s gonna be a bit of a waiting game over the next couple of weeks.
Water temp is around 70°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year.
The first several days are pretty much a washout. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th have tiny surf and bad wind, so don't bother. The first real sign of life is Sunday the 13th morning – a clean 3ft swell from the SSW with a long 18-second period and gentle cross-shore breeze. It's a marginal call, but those long period lines will wrap into the point and give you something to ride. The energy is moderate (565). Not a standout, but it’s the first chance.
Monday the 14th is blown out, and Tuesday the 15th morning sees a jump to a 7ft swell from the east, but with a short 9-second period and onshore wind. That’s a lot of raw power (911 energy) but it’ll be messy and tough. Only for the strong.
The rest of that week into the weekend is all cross-off winds but with small, weak swell and poor quality surf. Wednesday the 16th afternoon has a clean 6ft from the east and moderate cross-off breeze, but it’s still just marginal. The days through to the 20th are forgettable.
The absolute best session of the entire forecast is Saturday the 26th of September afternoon. The swell is only around 2ft from the SSW, but with a long 16-second period and glassy, dead-calm conditions. For a point break like this, that is pure gold. The energy is moderate (319), but the clean, lined-up waves will be a joy. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so get in the water early. That’s your one to circle.
Before that, the 22nd to the 25th is mostly onshore breeze and lumpy conditions, nothing worth rushing for. The 23rd has some cross-off wind but the swell is a short 7-second period and won’t hold up.
So, bottom line: the first week and a half is slim pickings. Save your energy for that glassy session on the 26th – it’s the real deal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Mon night). Mainly near gales. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SW 13 | S 12 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SW 10 | E 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 177 | 87 | 45 | 75 | 119 | 199 | 503 | 530 | 367 | 186 | 111 | 99 | 854 | 679 | 683 | 27 | 584 | 482 | 691 | 340 | 311 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | on | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:01PM1.92m | 4:12AM1.80m | 4:30PM1.93m | 4:41AM1.78m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:46AM-0.04m | 10:09PM0.00m | 10:15AM-0.06m | 10:38PM0.00m | 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 | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | |  |  | |  | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 7 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 249 | 230 | 165 | 129 | 119 | 199 | 161 | 173 | 367 | 186 | 111 | 1067 | 854 | 679 | 683 | 680 | 584 | 384 | 230 | 194 | 190 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 6 | S 12 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSE 8 | S 9 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 177 | 87 | 24 | 75 | 108 | 85 | 503 | 530 | 67 | 7 | — | 99 | 57 | 45 | 23 | 27 | 60 | 3 | 84 | 70 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 12 | SW 13 | S 5 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 17 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | — | — | — | SW 17 |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | 45 | 9 | 47 | 40 | 62 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 28 | 20 | 27 | — | — | — | 71 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | — | — | E 4 | — | ENE 7 | — | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | 81 | 37 | — | — | 12 | — | 241 | — | 503 | 1663 | 3457 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 482 | 691 | 340 | 311 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 354 | 50 | 3 | 49 | 49 | 21 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 635 | 171 | 50 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 635 | 260 | 716 | 692 | 830 |
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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