Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 3,406 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period with SSE 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. 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 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 4th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here again, switching over for the imperial folks.
The first few days are pretty quiet, but don't get discouraged. We've got a slow start but a solid pulse of swell coming in the second half of the first week and into the second. The water temp is sitting at about 72.1°F, which is right where you'd expect for this time of year.
Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th of July are a write-off. Swell is tiny and the wind is all wrong, either onshore or cross-onshore. You'd be better off fixing your fins or just having a sleep in. We're looking at a 4-day lull here.
The first real sign of life shows up on Wednesday morning the 8th. It's small at 1.3ft from the SE with a 9-second period and clean cross-offshore winds from the SSW, but the energy is weak (39). Not one to get excited about, but at least the water will look smooth.
Things start to get interesting on Thursday the 9th. Thursday afternoon is where it's at. We see a clean 6.6ft S swell with a solid 15-second period and light cross-offshore winds. The combined energy ramps right up to 1771, showing a strong, powerful groundswell. That's a proper set-up for experienced surfers at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) , though that 15-second period means it'll be a bit more lined up and hold its shape better on a point like this. It's ideal for the intermediate to advanced crew.
Friday the 10th of July keeps the run going. The morning session is looking very clean with a 5.9ft SSW swell and 14-second period, also under light cross-offshore winds. The energy is still high (1625). This is another top-notch window at Kelso.
The swell hangs in for Saturday the 11th, with a 7.5ft S swell and 14-second period, but the rain and light cross-onshore wind will mess with the surface. Still, plenty of grunt there (2068).
After that, from Sunday the 12th through to late in the second week, it's a long stretch of weak, blown-out, or just flat conditions. The wind picks up and the swell drops out. There are a few mornings with clean, cross-offshore wind around the 16th and 19th of July, but the swell is too small to really grab anything decent.
If I had to pick the one true standout, it's Thursday afternoon the 9th at Kelso. Clean, powerful, and solid. Friday the 10th morning is a very close second. Don't sleep on those windows.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2077 | 1402 | 884 | 660 | 471 | 303 | 180 | 124 | 63 | 61 | 54 | 81 | 22 | 205 | 157 | 413 | 1763 | 1266 | 1270 | 2644 | 2972 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:30PM1.58m | 6:34AM1.50m | 7:06PM1.55m | 7:12AM1.43m | 7:48PM1.51m | 7:58AM1.34m | 8:39PM1.45m | 8:57AM1.25m | 9:45PM1.40m | 10:19AM1.18m | 11:09PM1.37m | 11:56AM1.20m | 00:35AM1.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:12PM0.20m | 00:34AM0.35m | 12:46PM0.24m | 1:14AM0.40m | 1:24PM0.31m | 2:00AM0.46m | 2:09PM0.39m | 2:59AM0.51m | 3:07PM0.47m | 4:14AM0.55m | 4:25PM0.52m | 5:43AM0.53m | 5:57PM0.51m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | NE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | S 7 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | 2077 | 1402 | 884 | 660 | 471 | 303 | 67 | 124 | 326 | 61 | 47 | 180 | 57 | 31 | 52 | 134 | 1763 | 1266 | 1270 | 2644 | 2972 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | NE 5 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 17 | E 8 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 93 | 64 | 63 | 51 | 31 | 54 | 180 | 19 | 63 | 18 | 54 | 81 | 22 | 102 | 136 | 413 | 77 | 53 | 355 | 30 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 20 | SW 18 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | S 9 | E 10 | SSW 12 | E 10 | SE 9 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 15 | E 8 | SE 13 | E 9 |
| kJ | 53 | 15 | 13 | 59 | 40 | 39 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 59 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 7 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 13 | 129 | 141 | 80 | 485 | 173 | 143 | — | 149 | 205 | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 49 | 0 | 21 | 49 | 0 | 49 | 21 | 14 | 49 | 21 | 0 | 203 | 692 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 0 |
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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