Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 11,032 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Onrus this week:
The surf forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s break it down. The next two weeks have a bit of everything, but you gotta pick your moments. The clean windows with decent swell are the ones to chase.
We start on Thursday, 27 August, at Onrus (reef, intermediate spot). Morning has some clouds, but the wind is dead glassy out of the NW at just 3 mph. There’s a solid 5ft S swell with a clean 12-second period and combined energy at a moderate 781. Water temp is 59°, pretty average for this time of year. This is a very good session to get on it, and crowds are only sometimes an issue. Thursday afternoon stays nice with a cross-off breeze and 5ft from the SSW.
Friday, 28 August, stays clean. Morning glass again, swell drops slightly to 4ft from the SW, energy at 493, still good quality. The afternoon shifts: glassy wind, smaller 3ft swell from the WSW but with a longer 14-second period, bumping energy to 516. That longer period means better shape, and the reef will like it.
Saturday, 29 August, starts promising with light rain, cross-off wind, and a 4ft WSW groundswell at 13 seconds – energy at 705, a very good look. But by the afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the SW at 12 mph and the swell jumps to 6ft. Cross-chop will ruin it. Energy reads 1868, but it’s messy. Skip it.
Sunday, 30 August, has building swell and poor wind: 8ft from the WSW in the morning with onshore wind – not worth it. Afternoon sees 7ft from the SW, cross-onshore, still messy.
Monday, 31 August, is a return to form. Morning brings 6ft from the SW, 11 seconds, cross-off wind at 9 mph from the WNW, energy at 828. Very good and clean. Afternoon stays clean but wind picks up to 12 mph, so it’s a bit more work.
Tuesday, 1 September, gets serious. Morning has 8ft SW groundswell at 12 seconds, with a fresh offshore wind out of the NW at 19 mph. Energy is pumping at 1848. This is for experienced surfers only – too big for beginners. The offshore breeze will groom it, but it’s powerful. Afternoon holds similar size with cross-off wind.
Wednesday, 2 September, is a beast. Swell hits 15ft from the SW with a 16-second period – very long period groundswell. Combined energy is 9652, huge. But the wind is cross, and this is too big for Onrus. The reef will be dangerous. Even experts should sit this one out. Afternoon same story at 13ft.
From Thursday, 3 September through Saturday, 5 September, conditions go bad. Onshore winds 22-25 mph, short-period junk, poor surf. Don’t bother.
Sunday, 6 September, offers a glimmer: 3ft SW groundswell at 16 seconds and light wind, but energy is moderate (700). Afternoon cross-onshore kills it.
Monday, 7 September afternoon, is a standout in the second week. Glassy wind, 5ft SE swell at 9 seconds (short period, punchy), energy at 847. Very good and clean – a solid session for any intermediate.
Tuesday, 8 September, morning glass again, 3ft SW at 14 seconds, clean but smaller. Good, not great.
Wednesday, 9 September, offers consistent clean lines: 3ft SW at 12-13 seconds, light cross-off wind. Steady surf.
Thursday, 10 September, is small and wind-affected – skip it.
But Friday, 11 September, is the real gem in the second week. Morning: 6ft SW groundswell at 13 seconds, light cross-off wind, combined energy of 1232. Excellent for experienced surfers. Afternoon holds similar size and quality with a slight cross-shore ripple. This is the best session in the latter half – clean, solid, and worth planning for.
So the best on offer is Thursday, 27 August morning at Onrus for the glass and clean 5ft S swell, and Friday, 11 September morning for that 6ft SW groundswell with light offshore conditions. The middle of the forecast has a big, ugly swell event, so pick your windows.
Stay safe, read the tides, and don’t be a hero on that 15ft day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the WNW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
628 | 513 | 410 | 279 | 239 | 302 | 414 | 1227 | 545 | 1715 | 1369 | 1162 | 828 | 757 | 1270 | 1848 | 2107 | 8805 | 9652 | 6906 | 4124 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:06PM1.56m | 3:15AM1.52m | 3:34PM1.64m | 3:45AM1.55m | 4:02PM1.68m | 4:16AM1.55m | 4:32PM1.68m | 4:48AM1.52m | 5:04PM1.65m | 5:22AM1.46m | 5:38PM1.57m | 6:00AM1.36m | 6:18PM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:56AM0.15m | 9:17PM0.18m | 9:23AM0.10m | 9:46PM0.12m | 9:50AM0.07m | 10:15PM0.09m | 10:19AM0.07m | 10:46PM0.09m | 10:49AM0.11m | 11:19PM0.13m | 11:22AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.20m | 11:59AM0.29m | 00:39AM0.31m | |||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | SW 8 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 |
628 | 513 | 410 | 279 | 214 | 302 | 414 | 1227 | 479 | 1715 | 1369 | 1162 | 828 | 757 | 1270 | 1848 | 2107 | 8805 | 9652 | 6906 | 4124 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
153 | 150 | 95 | 91 | 239 | 98 | 116 | 61 | 545 | 11 | 20 | 11 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SW 18 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | S 13 | WSW 16 | ESE 8 | SSE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
154 | 12 | 57 | 123 | 63 | 82 | 175 | 14 | 38 | 12 | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | S 9 |
— | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 580 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 601 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 206 | 4 | 23 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 60 | 66 | 25 | 32 | 352 | 38 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Overberg | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Onrus Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Onrus provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Onrus can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Onrus 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 (Onrus) 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 Onrus 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.
Onrus is 6 km (4 miles) from Hermanus. If you plan a holiday in Overberg, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hermanus. Hermanus has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











