Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the cards for Kelso over the next 16 days.

First thing you’ll notice is we’ve got some solid swell on the way, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag for conditions. The water temp is sitting about 72°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no need to dig out the extra rubber just yet.

The swell starts to build on Friday the 31st, with an 8ft SSE swell, but the wind is a stiff 19 mph cross-offshore. It’s clean, but the energy is huge (1429), and the period is short at 9 seconds. It’s a bit of a washing machine, so not the best for a fun session. The marginal score tells the story – it’s a bit of a slog.

Saturday morning the 1st of August is similar, with a 7ft SE swell at 10 seconds, but that 12 mph cross-off wind keeps it from being really good. The energy is still moderate (852). It’s clean, but not firing.

Now, Sunday the 2nd of August is where things get interesting. We’ve got an 8ft SE swell, period stretching to 11 seconds, and the energy is strong (1484 all morning, jumping to 1673 in the afternoon). The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-off. This is right in the sweet spot for experienced surfers at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). The swell direction is a touch south of the optimum, but the quality is there. It’s a point break, so that longer period will wrap in nicely. This is the standout window of the whole outlook. The crowd profile says "sometimes," so it might be a bit busy, but with that much swell, there’ll be waves to go around.

Monday the 3rd of August, the wind swings to a light 3 mph NE in the morning, turning glassy. Swell drops to 7ft from the ESE at 10 seconds, with moderate energy (950). This is a very good window for a more relaxed session, still with some size. The glassy conditions are a major positive.

After that, it fades. Tuesday the 4th through Thursday the 7th of August sees the swell drop and the wind turn onshore, making for poor to marginal surf. There’s a pulse on Friday the 7th with a 7ft S swell at 14 seconds, but the wind is onshore, making it a mess.

Then we hit a long dry spell. From Saturday the 8th of August all the way through to Wednesday the 13th of August, the surf is either too small, too windy, or just plain poor. The combined energy drops to as low as 34, which is barely a ripple. That’s a solid five-day gap with no real recommendations.

Thursday the 14th of August sees a big spike in energy (2439) with a 10ft SSW swell, but the wind is a strong 16 mph cross-on. That’s heavy, lumpy, and only for the very keen on a big board. Friday the 15th is a write-off with near gale force winds.

Bottom line: your best bet is the Sunday the 2nd of August session. The 8ft SE swell with clean cross-off winds and solid energy is the one to circle. The Monday morning glass-off on the 3rd is a close second, though a bit smaller. The rest of the window is a bit of a gamble or a flat spell, so pick your days wisely.

Rusty.

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