Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking at Kelso, specifically the point at Happy Wanderers, over the next couple of weeks.

The forecast starts off a bit rough, with messy winds and lumpy conditions through the first weekend. The first real chance to get wet looks like it’ll be Monday the 31st of August, when things finally clean up. The swell energy is moderate (368 to 386), with a clean, light cross-off breeze. The waves are around 4ft to 4ft from the east, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds – that’s a short-to-medium period groundswell, so it’ll have some shape and push. For a point break, that’s a good combo; the longer period means you’ll get some nice lines and the sets will be spaced out, making paddling out a bit easier. The wind is light and offshore, which is a major plus – it’ll be glassy and clean. Water temp is sitting at 70°F, which is pretty average for the time of year, so no surprises. That Monday morning is the standout for the first week – not huge, but clean and surfable. Crowds are possible at Happy Wanderers, so keep that in mind.

After that, things get chaotic. Tuesday the 1st of September brings onshore winds and the swell drops. Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a pulse of 7ft from the SSW, but it’s a short period 7-second windswell with a moderate breeze. That’s a lot of lumpy, messy energy (643) and not what you want on a point. Later that afternoon, a very long period 15-second groundswell from the SSW shows up, but it’s tiny at 3ft. That’s a classic case of a groundswell that’s too straight for a beach break, but on a point like this, it could still offer clean, long walls on the right tide. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s worth a look for the patient surfer.

The second week gets more interesting, but it’s a mixed bag. Thursday the 3rd of September morning is small and clean, but the afternoon brings a massive pulse of 12ft from the SSW with a very short 7-second period. That’s a huge amount of energy (1103), but it’s basically a washing machine. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The wind is fresh and cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but the size and period make it a serious challenge.

The best of the second week, and possibly the real standout of the whole outlook, is Sunday the 6th of September. That morning shows a solid 8ft from the SSW with a long 14-second period, sending a massive amount of energy (2545) into the point. The wind is light and onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but the swell is so substantial that it could still be incredible. This is a long-range call, so it’s promising but less certain. If it lines up, it’s going to be a heavy, powerful day – definitely for experienced surfers only. The afternoon drops a bit in size to 7ft but the wind shifts to a gentle cross-onshore, so it might get a bit choppy.

There are a few other days with small, clean waves (like Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of September), but they’re either too small or have too much wind. The final few days of the window taper off to tiny, weak swells with poor conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for the tail end.

Overall, if you’ve got a shortboard, keep your eyes on Monday the 31st of August for clean, fun waves. If you’re an expert and want a serious challenge, lock in Sunday the 6th of September, but be ready for a big, powerful, low-period swell that’s going to be a handful. Most of the rest of the time, it’s either flat, onshore, or just too messy.

Rusty.

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