Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Kelso (Happy Wanderers) has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 71°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no worries there.

The pattern's a bit of a slow burner. We're looking at a real quiet start. The first session worth even mentioning is Thursday morning, the 13th of August. It's not the biggest, but conditions are looking prime. We've got a 6ft swell rolling in from the ESE with a short 8-second period, and the wind is dead calm—glassy. That's a beautiful thing. The combined wave energy is moderate at 646. It won't be a monster session, but it'll be clean and fun for a paddle.

After that, things get a bit messy. From Friday the 14th right through to the 19th, the wind is pretty much onshore or cross-onshore, making for choppy, poor conditions. There's a bit of energy at times, but the wind just ruins it. The water goes quiet for a stretch.

Now, here's the standout. Keep your eyes on Thursday morning, the 20th of August. This is where it gets interesting. We've got a solid 8ft swell from the SSW, with a long 14-second period. That's a proper groundswell with heaps of energy—the combined wave energy is a very strong 2244. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean and well-shaped. This is a big swell, though, so it's really for the experienced crew. For a point break like Kelso, that long period groundswell from the SSW should wrap in nicely, offering some long, racy walls. This is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window.

There's also a bit of a pulse around the 24th of August, a Monday morning. You've got a 8ft swell from the south with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is massive at 3088. The wind is light cross-onshore, which could put a little bump on the face, but it might be rideable. It's a bit of a gamble, and the tide could be a factor. Worth keeping an eye on, but the 20th is your real target.

Other than that, the rest of the period is a mix of small surf, onshore winds, or just plain flat. There are a few clean days with cross-offshore winds, but the swell is tiny, under 3 feet.

So, to sum it up: the first real chance is a small, glassy session on the morning of the 13th, but the big one to circle is Thursday morning, the 20th of August. That's your best chance for some proper, powerful waves.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

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