Kelso (Happy Wanderers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, we’ve got some solid size coming, but the wind is going to be a real battle for most of it. The cleanest windows are going to be few and far between, so you’ve got to pick your moments.

The first real chance to get wet is Thursday morning, 23 July. It’s not much to write home about, with a knee-high 3ft SSW swell wrapping around the point. The wind is a cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the combined wave energy is sitting at a weak 464 – it’s just not got much punch. Thursday afternoon gets a bit lighter wind, but the same small swell.

Friday the 24th is where things get big. We’re looking at a solid 13ft SSW swell early, dropping to 12ft in the afternoon. That’s heavy-duty stuff. The period is a short 10 seconds, so it’s windswell, and the energy is huge (2827), but with a strong cross-offshore breeze, it’s going to be a wild, challenging day. Only for the experts, and even then, it’s a handful. The wind is fresh to strong, but it’s cross-off, so the faces will be clean.

Saturday morning, 25 July, the swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the SSE, with a period of 10 seconds. The wind goes light and variable, shifting cross, giving us some clean shapes. The energy is still moderate (1113). This is a good window for the experienced intermediate, but the swell direction is a bit off the optimum for the break.

Sunday the 26th through Monday the 27th is a write-off. Fresh onshore winds from the NE and dropping swell mean lumpy, choppy, and generally poor conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing special there.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday afternoon, 28 July. The wind swings to a light S breeze, cross-offshore, and the swell is a tiny 3ft, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The energy is moderate (696), but the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” This long-period swell will wrap around the point at Kelso (Happy Wanderers) beautifully, offering clean, lined-up waves. The crowds are “sometimes” an issue, so you might have some company. This is the best call of the first week.

Then Wednesday the 29th brings a massive 10ft to 6ft groundswell from the S and SSW, with a 16-second period, but the wind is onshore from the ENE. That’s a real shame – the energy is massive (4560 to 2480), but it’ll be blown out. A real case of “what could have been.”

The rest of the first week into early August is a mess of NE onshore winds and poor conditions. The first of August (Saturday morning) is worth a mention: a 7ft easterly swell with glassy conditions – that’s a rare treat. The energy is moderate (817) and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” The only catch is the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s a bit junky, but if you’re there and the wind is off, it’ll be the best of the weekend.

The second week is a bit of a gamble. Tuesday 4 August and Wednesday 5 August have some cross-offshore winds with 3ft to 5ft swell, but it’s from the SSE and E, again not the best direction. The longer-range stuff around 5-6 August shows a massive 19-second period swell on the 5th but it’s only 2ft and the wind is light, so it’s a classic “long period, small swell” day for the point. After that, it drops away to nothing.

Overall, the best bets are Tuesday afternoon, 28 July for the clean, long-period groundswell, and Saturday morning, 1 August for the rare glassy conditions. If you’re an expert, Friday the 24th is there for the big, clean, but heavy, surf.

Rusty.

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