Onrus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year – you’ll feel that extra chill on the paddle out.

The focus is on Onrus, a reef setup that needs a good SW groundswell to deliver. The first real action kicks off Monday morning, 17 August. We’ve got a solid 8ft WSW groundswell rolling in at 13 seconds, packing a heap of energy (2084). That’s moderate to strong stuff. The wind is WNW at 12 mph, blowing offshore, which should keep the face clean. This is excellent, but at this size it’s really for experienced surfers only – the reef will be exposed and the power is legit. It’s an inconsistent break, so the sets will be worth waiting for, but they’ll be worth it. The crowd factor is “sometimes” so you won’t be alone, but it’s manageable.

The rest of the week is messy. Tuesday and Wednesday see onshore and cross-shore winds messing up the lines, with the swell staying around 8ft, but the conditions just aren’t there. Hold off.

Thursday 20 August – the swell jumps to 10ft with SW direction, very strong energy (3116), but the wind is cross-onshore. The file says it’s too big for this break anyway, and at that size it’s a beast for experts only. A bit of a washing machine.

Now, the real standout for the whole outlook is Saturday morning, 22 August. The wind drops to nothing – glassy conditions, a slight air – and we’ve got a clean 7ft SW groundswell at 11 seconds. The energy is moderate (1112), but the glassy surface will make every wave look like a postcard. This is the best on offer for the intermediate crew. The sets will be a bit more spaced out due to the longer period, but the paddle out will be easy and the reef will hold the line. Don’t sleep on this one.

The following week is a tale of two halves. Monday 24 August has a beautiful morning: 5ft SW swell, light cross-offshore wind, clean conditions. That’s a fun, mellow morning for a longer board. The afternoon picks up to 7ft at 14 seconds – very long period – which will make the reef stand up but the gaps between sets will be long. Good for the patient.

Wednesday 26 August is another glassy morning, 7ft SW at 13 seconds, clean and inviting. That’s a repeat of the Saturday vibe, but slightly smaller.

But then Sunday 30 August and Monday 31 August bring the big stuff again: 10ft to 12ft SW swell with very strong energy (4339). That’s expert territory, and with cross-shore or onshore winds, it’s going to be a messy, dangerous beast. Pass on that unless you’re a charger with a death wish.

Tuesday 1 September – the very end of the window – we’re back to glassy conditions with a 6ft SSW groundswell. That’s a nice, clean, smaller day to wrap it up. Not a standout, but a good note to end on.

Overall, the best bet is Saturday morning, 22 August. Glassy, clean, 7ft, SW groundswell, and the reef will be working beautifully. The other good window is Monday 24 August morning for the smaller, cleaner lines. The rest is either too big, too windy, or just average. Get out there when the glass hits.

Rusty.

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