Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 563 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) this week:
The surf forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) in the next 16 days are 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 9s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s your local surf reporter Rusty here. Let's get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window for Kelso (Happy Wanderers), and honestly, it’s a real mixed bag with a lot of waiting.
Looking at the overall pattern, the first week and a half is pretty flat and quiet. A lot of small, weak swell with poor wind conditions. The water temp is sitting at 72°F, which is about normal for the time of year, nothing wild there. The energy is just not there for the first 9 days, with most of the swell readings being tiny and the combined energy values staying under 300 (weak). There's a big gap of days with no real surf on offer.
We start seeing a pulse of energy pick up around the morning of the 17th of September, but it comes with a serious caveat. The morning of Thursday the 17th has a 12 ft swell from the SSW with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 1668. That’s a lot of water moving, but that period is short, and the wind is a strong cross-off. This is proper big, chunky, and messy stuff. It’s definitely for experts only, and even then, it’s a marginal call. The afternoon of the 17th is still big at 8 ft, but the wind jumps to a strong breeze at 28 mph, which will make it a battle.
The 18th of September (Friday) stays big, with 8 ft and 8 ft swell from the south, but the period drops to 8 seconds. This is choppy, short-period wind swell. The winds are a bit lighter, but it’s still a big, unruly ocean. The combined energy is still very strong (over 1000), but the quality just isn’t there for a classic point break wave. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The standout moment, if you can call it that, is the morning of the 17th of September. It’s the biggest swell of the window, but it’s a raw, powerful, and short-period swell. This is a spot for experienced surfers who know the break well and are prepared for a heavy session. The swell is coming from the SSW, which is a cross-off wind, so the faces will be clean, but the raw power and short period mean it’ll be a bumpy, steep ride. There’s a chance of a few good ones, but it’s going to be a grind. The rest of the forecast is a write-off for quality surf.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 9 | SSW 12 | E 9 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 158 | 86 | 88 | 62 | 22 | 27 | 86 | 234 | 146 | 203 | 57 | 122 | 63 | 491 | 499 | 353 | 183 | 107 | 42 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | off | on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:35AM1.56m | 2:57PM1.72m | 3:10AM1.69m | 3:30PM1.85m | 3:42AM1.77m | 4:01PM1.92m | 4:12AM1.80m | 4:30PM1.93m | 4:41AM1.78m | 4:58PM1.89m | 5:08AM1.73m | 5:24PM1.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:30PM0.30m | 8:42AM0.17m | 9:06PM0.15m | 9:15AM0.04m | 9:39PM0.05m | 9:46AM-0.04m | 10:09PM0.00m | 10:15AM-0.06m | 10:38PM0.00m | 10:43AM-0.04m | 11:05PM0.04m | 11:10AM0.03m | 11:30PM0.12m | ||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | 5:45 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | ENE 11 | SE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 158 | 86 | 88 | 62 | 49 | 27 | 388 | 275 | 216 | 203 | 132 | 122 | 181 | 215 | 499 | 353 | 183 | 107 | 42 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SSE 10 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 15 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 22 | 7 | 86 | 234 | 146 | 15 | 28 | 57 | 63 | 491 | 22 | 16 | 6 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | S 16 | S 17 | E 12 | SSW 14 | — | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 8 | SSW 10 | SSE 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 21 | — | 11 | 5 | 5 | 68 | 57 | 47 | 40 | 33 | 34 | 6 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | NE 2 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 501 | 489 | 673 | 828 | 593 | 604 | — | 72 | 47 | — | 1 | 20 | 253 | 316 | 358 | 887 | 1342 | 2748 | 1721 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 426 | 383 | 647 | 49 | 251 | 187 | 3 | 205 | 51 | 0 | 817 | 49 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 666 | 636 | 187 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Kelso (Happy Wanderers)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) is 5 km (3 miles) from Scottburgh. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Scottburgh. Scottburgh has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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