
Surf Forecasts:
Kelso (Happy Wanderers) surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 3,330 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Jul 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kelso (Happy Wanderers) over the next 16 days.
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s heading our way for the next couple of weeks.
Overall, it’s a mixed run with a solid start, a quiet stretch, and a big, uncertain pulse right at the end. The first few days are your best bet, then it goes flat, with a possible late return.
The first real action is at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) . This is a point break that’s fairly consistent and gets a decent SSW swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing special. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell coming in on the 10th, with a big groundswell from the SSW. Friday morning has 10-foot surf with a 15-second period, which is a very long-period groundswell. That’s a ton of energy (3337), but it’s marked as marginal and the wind is a light cross-shore, so it might be a bit messy. Friday afternoon eases to 8 feet, and the wind turns to a cross-off, cleaning it up. The real standout is Saturday the 11th. Morning has 7 feet at 13 seconds with a light cross-off breeze, making for clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon picks up a bit more energy (1443) with 7 feet from the S, still clean. That’s your best window – solid, clean, and just right for intermediate surfers. It’s a bit big for beginners over 5 feet, but not into expert-only territory.
Sunday the 12th drops off, with 6 feet in the morning and a moderate breeze, so still clean but weaker. After that, the wave energy drops steadily. Monday the 13th morning is a different kind of highlight – glassy conditions with 6 feet, but the period crashes to 8 seconds, so it’s weak windswell (574). It’ll be clean and fun for a longboard, but not the same power.
Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th mornings see a return to cleaner conditions with 6 feet and 7 feet again, and Wednesday morning is glassy with a 10-second period – that’s a nice, clean session (813). After that, the swell fades fast. From Friday the 17th through to Monday the 21st, it’s a long gap of small, weak, or messy surf. The energy drops into the low hundreds and even double digits, with poor conditions and onshore winds. Not worth paddling out.
Then, out of nowhere, on Tuesday the 21st morning, there’s a spike of 6 feet from the NE with a short 6-second period (391). It’s clean with a light cross-off, but that period is so short it’ll be choppy and weak. By the 25th, the last day of the forecast, we get a massive pulse of 7 feet from the SSW with a 17-second period (2504). That’s a very long period groundswell and *huge* energy. But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy and poor. It’s a tease for the end of the window, but you’d need a lucky wind change to make it work.
So, for the best surf, get out on Saturday the 11th. Morning or afternoon, it’s clean, solid, and consistent. It’s a point break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. After that, the pickings are slim until the end of the month, which is too far out to bank on.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3330 | 2895 | 1980 | 1279 | 1421 | 1092 | 683 | 579 | 336 | 303 | 308 | 443 | 390 | 705 | 783 | 739 | 755 | 596 | 530 | 467 | 386 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:56AM1.20m | 00:35AM1.42m | 1:18PM1.29m | 1:46AM1.51m | 2:21PM1.43m | 2:42AM1.61m | 3:12PM1.57m | 3:31AM1.69m | 3:59PM1.69m | 4:14AM1.74m | 4:42PM1.77m | 4:55AM1.74m | 5:22PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:57PM0.51m | 7:04AM0.45m | 7:18PM0.43m | 8:08AM0.33m | 8:23PM0.31m | 8:59AM0.21m | 9:16PM0.20m | 9:44AM0.10m | 10:04PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.03m | 10:47PM0.11m | 11:04AM0.01m | 11:28PM0.13m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
3330 | 2895 | 1980 | 1279 | 1421 | 1092 | 683 | 579 | 336 | 131 | 308 | 443 | 390 | 705 | 783 | 739 | 755 | 596 | 530 | 467 | 386 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 6 | E 9 | E 10 | E 6 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SE 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | SSW 14 |
32 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 80 | 13 | 8 | 104 | 256 | 202 | 143 | 208 | 22 | 33 | 31 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 37 | 178 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 11 | — | SSW 11 | S 10 | — | SW 16 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 |
7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 100 | 84 | 5 | — | 45 | 17 | — | 10 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 112 | 80 | — | 303 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 36 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 426 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 49 |
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.










