
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 7,265 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period with SW 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 9s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks at Onrus. The early part is a bit slow, with a gap from July 31st through August 2nd that’s mostly marginal, so don’t rush. Then things ramp up.
Friday July 31st: morning has some clouds, a gentle cross-shore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph. Swell is a weak 3.6 ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, combined energy 387 – weak. Marginal. The afternoon gets worse with cross-onshore wind and chop. Leave it.
Saturday August 1st: clear, but the morning is still marginal. Swell 3.6 ft from the SW, period 14 seconds, energy 548 – moderate. Light NE wind at 3 mph, cross-shore. Afternoon is messy with onshore wind.
Sunday August 2nd: clear. Morning gets a clean offshore breeze from the NW at 3 mph, swell 3.6 ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, energy 447. Clean but small. Afternoon is glassy, light SW wind at 3 mph, swell 4.3 ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, energy 605. That’s a good little window.
Standout days start Monday August 3rd. Monday morning: glassy, clear, 4.9 ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, energy 915. Wind is light WSW at 3 mph, glassy. This is the best on offer – clean, building, and the reef will love it. Afternoon stays glassy with 5.6 ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, energy 996. Great session, intermediate-friendly, crowds only sometimes.
Tuesday August 4th: morning clean with cross-offshore W wind at 6 mph, swell 4.6 ft from the SW, period 11 seconds, energy 513. Good. Afternoon has stronger WSW wind at 12 mph, cross-off, 5.9 ft WSW swell, period 11 seconds, energy 769 – still clean.
Wednesday August 5th to Thursday August 6th: swell gets big. 9.8 ft to 13.1 ft from the SW and WSW, massive energy readings like 4024, 4394, 5129, 7265. That’s strong to very strong. Wind is offshore or clean, but at 9.8 ft and over, it’s for experts only. The reef will be a beast.
Friday August 7th: morning glassy, calm, 8.2 ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, energy 2549. Clean and powerful for experienced surfers. Afternoon gets a light cross-onshore wind, a bit rippled.
Saturday August 8th: glassy morning and afternoon, swell dropping from 7.5 ft to 6.6 ft SW, period 12 seconds, energy 1468 to 1092. Excellent for experienced surfers, crowds only sometimes.
Sunday August 9th: morning offshore WNW at 9 mph, 6.6 ft WSW swell, period 11 seconds, energy 926 – clean. Afternoon gets stronger wind, a bit blown.
Monday August 10th: morning clean with 8.2 ft SSW swell, period 11 seconds, energy 2325 – big for the reef, cross-off N wind at 16 mph. Afternoon even bigger at 9.8 ft, experts only.
Tuesday August 11th: morning clean with 8.2 ft S swell, period 9 seconds, energy 1520 – shorter period, walled up, but clean. Afternoon gets cross-onshore wind, rippled.
Wednesday August 12th: morning marginal, but afternoon is excellent – 4.9 ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, energy 1017, clean cross-off wind. Good for intermediates.
Thursday August 13th: morning marginal with cross-onshore wind, 5.2 ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, energy 1057. Afternoon poor with onshore wind.
Friday August 14th: mostly poor, cross-onshore winds and chop. Morning is a write-off, afternoon marginal.
Saturday August 15th: morning glassy
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
545 | 373 | 278 | 182 | 514 | 431 | 388 | 424 | 486 | 609 | 915 | 996 | 760 | 503 | 743 | 480 | 4024 | 4139 | 3732 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:10AM1.48m | 4:34PM1.57m | 4:41AM1.47m | 5:03PM1.58m | 5:13AM1.44m | 5:34PM1.57m | 5:47AM1.39m | 6:08PM1.53m | 6:26AM1.32m | 6:48PM1.46m | 7:13AM1.23m | 7:37PM1.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:12PM0.24m | 10:20AM0.12m | 10:43PM0.22m | 10:48AM0.13m | 11:14PM0.21m | 11:17AM0.16m | 11:47PM0.23m | 11:49AM0.22m | 00:25AM0.27m | 12:25PM0.30m | 1:09AM0.33m | 1:10PM0.39m | 2:06AM0.41m | ||||||
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | |
6:00 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | WSW 10 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
545 | 373 | 278 | 182 | 514 | 431 | 388 | 424 | 486 | 609 | 915 | 996 | 760 | 503 | 22 | 480 | 4024 | 4139 | 3732 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 19 | SE 9 | WSW 16 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 16 | SE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SW 15 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
— | 14 | 38 | 166 | 34 | 36 | 27 | 17 | 102 | 26 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 479 | 31 | 18 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 18 | SE 9 | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | SE 10 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — |
— | — | 48 | 28 | — | — | 7 | 6 | 17 | 12 | — | — | — | 10 | — | 4 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | WSW 11 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 6 | — |
21 | 22 | 251 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 743 | 4 | 26 | 255 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 25 | 72 | 50 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Overberg | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











