Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, looking at what's on the cards for our local patch. To be honest, the next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that'll get the blood pumping. The water temp is sitting right about average for the time of year at 71°, so nothing unusual there.

The action kicks off this Saturday morning, the 11th of July, at Kelso (Happy Wanderers). We've got a solid 7ft SSW groundswell with a nice long 13-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is strong at (1408), so there's plenty of push. This is gonna be a proper point-break grind, but it's packing some serious power – this is definitely one for the experienced crew. The size is up there, so beginners should give it a miss. It stays clean into the afternoon with a 7ft S swell, but watch for a possible storm.

Sunday the 12th sees the swell drop to 5ft, but the wind swings around to a cross-on ESE, messing up the surface. The quality drops right off.

Monday and Tuesday are pretty average with small, short-period windswell and inconsistent conditions. Tuesday arvo though, things get interesting. The wind goes glassy, and we get a clean 6ft E swell with a 9-second period. It's not huge, but with the glassy conditions, it'll be worth a look if you're keen for a cruise.

Wednesday the 15th has a glimmer in the afternoon – a 5ft E swell with a 10-second period and a cross-offshore breeze from the south. It'll be clean, but the energy is only moderate (493).

Now, here's the standout. Friday the 17th, a big dirty SSW swell arrives. The morning is a wild 7ft with a super short 7-second period, and the wind is howling at 25 mph. That's a mess. But the afternoon is the one. A massive 12ft SSW groundswell with a 12-second period, and the wind is still a strong cross-off. The combined energy is an absolute monster (3906). This is a serious, big-wave day only for experts. The power is immense, and at a point break like this, it'll be a freight train. This is the best on offer for the whole forecast.

Saturday the 18th hangs in there with a solid 8ft S swell and a long 14-second period, staying clean in the cross-off wind. The energy is still very strong (3785), but it's dropping off slowly. Good for the experienced crew again.

After that, the surf turns into a bit of a write-off for a stretch. Sunday the 19th through to Wednesday the 22nd is plagued by strong onshore winds and messy, lumpy conditions. The swell drops away, and there's really nothing worth paddling out for.

We get a brief chance on Thursday the 23rd. The afternoon goes glassy with a 3ft SSW groundswell and a 15-second period. The energy is moderate (582), but it's clean as a whistle. It'll be small and very long-period, so you'll be waiting for sets, but the lack of any wind makes it a nice, quiet session.

Friday the 24th and the weekend that follows are a mix of onshore winds and small, chopped-up swell. The last gasp on Sunday the 26th has a 6ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making it a choppy mess. Not one to get excited about.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best is the Friday afternoon, the 17th of July, for the big-wave chargers. The Saturday the 18th is a good follow-up. For a small, clean, glassy go, the afternoon of Thursday the 23rd is your best bet for a paddle.

Rusty.

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