Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a pretty grim start. The first week is mostly a write-off. Monday the 17th through to Wednesday the 19th is all tiny, weak, and lumpy with cross-onshore winds, so don’t even bother paddling out. There is a short spike of energy around Thursday the 20th, with a 8ft SSW swell pushing in on the morning, clean cross-off winds, but the energy is moderate (1105) and the period is short at 9 seconds. It’s labelled marginal, and honestly, for an intermediate spot, that size is going to be powerful and a bit unruly – maybe one for the experienced crew only. The swell then drops Friday, but the wind swings onshore and ruins it.

We get a bit of a reset over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th. Swell hangs around 5ft to 6ft from the SSW, but the wind is light and cross-onshore or onshore, so it’ll be a bit soft and bumpy. Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about. The water temp is 70°, pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, let’s talk about the one true standout. Mark your calendar for Sunday the 30th of August through Tuesday the 1st of September. This is where it gets interesting. On Sunday the 30th afternoon, we see a solid 10ft SSW swell (10 seconds) with a gentle cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is very strong at 1942. That’s big, powerful surf – definitely experts only. Monday the 31st keeps the energy cranking with a 10ft SSW swell (13 seconds) and clean cross-off winds. The energy is massive (2960), and those longer-period waves will have real punch. This is the best on offer, but only if you’ve got the skills. Tuesday the 1st of September still has a 8ft SSW swell (15 seconds) and light onshore winds, so still big and meaty, but maybe a touch less clean. The energy remains very strong (2647). If you’re a confident surfer, these three days are your window.

Keep in mind, that long-period SSW swell (over 15 seconds) tends to break a bit straight at beach breaks, but Kelso is a point break, so it should handle that energy nicely and offer some proper waves. It’ll be consistent too, given the fairly consistent nature of the spot. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so on those big days, expect a few locals out, but nothing crazy.

For the beginners reading this – anything over 5ft is pushing it, and over 8ft is a hard pass. Stick to the flat spells.

So, in short: a long, dry spell until the very end of August and start of September. Then, get ready for a proper groundswell event. It’s a long way out, so don’t lock it in yet, but it’s got my attention.

Rusty

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