Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. Kelso’s got a bit of a tease on the horizon, but you’ll need to be patient and pick your windows.

The water’s at 72°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – nice.

First real chance is Saturday afternoon, September 5th. It’s a bit iffy, but we’ve got a 6ft SSE swell, with a combined energy of 856 (moderate). The wind is light from the ENE, so it’s clean enough for a look at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). It’s a point break, fairly consistent, and it likes swell from the south. The period is short, so expect a bit of a wall rather than a hollow shape.

Sunday the 6th is a total write-off – 3ft swell, onshore wind, poor conditions. Stay home.

Now, the real standout. Monday morning, September 7th – this is the one. A solid 12ft S swell at 17 seconds, a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 6380 (very strong). The wind is light from the NNE, so it’s cross-on but clean. This is big, powerful, and only for experts. The wave will be a freight train at this point break. The paddle out will be easier between sets, but the sets themselves are heavy. This is the best session of the entire forecast.

Monday afternoon the wind picks up to 19 mph from the NE, chopping it up, so that morning window is the only one.

From Tuesday the 8th through the end of the first week, it’s a long, flat, poor stretch. Swell drops to under 3ft, winds are cross-on or onshore, and the energy is weak (as low as 50). There’s a tiny flicker on Friday the 11th with a clean 3ft SSW swell, but it’s too small and the scores say it’s poor. Don’t bother.

The second week starts with a touch of hope. Sunday the 13th has a clean, 4ft SSW groundswell (17 seconds) with a combined energy of 840 (moderate). The wind is light cross-off from the S. It’s still marginal, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen in days. Worth a paddle if you’re jonesin’.

Then it’s back to rubbish until the 19th. Saturday, September 19th, morning session – we’ve got a 8ft E swell, combined energy of 1225 (strong), and light SW winds. That’s a clean, offshore wind setup. The swell direction is a bit off the optimum for Kelso (which likes S), but it’s a decent size and the wind will make it glassy. This could be a fun, punchy wave for those who can handle it. It’s a secondary standout, but it’s promising. The rest of that day goes flat again.

The last couple of days of the forecast period are poor – strong onshore winds, small swell. Not worth it.

So, the best option is Monday morning, September 7th at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) – big, powerful, long period groundswell, for experts only. The backup is the morning of Saturday the 19th – smaller but with clean offshore wind. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a bust.

Rusty.

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