Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up. Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Kelso.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 73°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus if you’re paddling out.

The real standout is Saturday morning, July 25th. We’ve got a clean 4ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a deep 15-second period, giving the waves some real grunt. The combined energy is solid (1188), so there’s plenty of push. The wind is a light SSE cross-off, which will keep the face nice and clean. The only catch? It’s at a point break, and with that long period, the sets might be a bit walled-up at the take-off, but for the intermediate crew, this is as good as it gets. Expect very good surf conditions.

After that, Sunday morning (July 26th) turns to rubbish. The wind swings around to a moderate NE cross-on at 16 mph, and the swell drops off a bit. The combined energy is down (767) and the chop will be messy. Not worth paddling out.

The next real window of opportunity is Wednesday, July 29th. The morning session is looking excellent for those who know what they’re doing. We’re looking at a 5ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 1560. The wind is a light SW cross-off – absolute perfection. The waves will have plenty of power, but at over 5ft, it’s going to be a bit much for beginners. The afternoon follows up nicely with a 4ft SSW swell and light cross-off wind, good for a second session.

Now, there’s a bit of a gap. From Thursday, July 30th, right through to the end of the first week, it’s mostly poor. The swell shifts to a short-period SE, and the wind is onshore or cross-on, making for choppy, messy conditions.

We then get a promising run starting Monday, August 3rd. The morning is a bit uncertain with an onshore wind, but the afternoon… that’s a beauty. The wind drops to glassy, and we’ve got a 6ft ESE groundswell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is strong (1102). That’s a proper clean, powerful wave. Be aware, at 6ft, it’s getting into the zone where it’s more for the experienced. The long period also means it might be a bit tricky on the beach, so keep your wits about you.

The days after that drop off quickly. The wind picks up and the swell fades out. By the time we hit the second week, there’s not much to get excited about.

So, to wrap it up: your best bets are Saturday morning, July 25th, and Wednesday, July 29th, for the best quality. Monday afternoon, August 3rd, is a solid back-up if you can wait. The rest is a write-off.

Rusty.

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