
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,116 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk waves. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag – a few real chances, some total washouts, and one massive swell that’s just too much for this spot.
First, on Monday afternoon, the 7th, at Onrus (Overberg), we’ve got a reef break with a 1.8m southwest swell. It’s got a 13-second period and moderate energy (1083), but the wind is light and cross, so it’s a bit bumpy. The water is 56°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual – you’ll feel that. It’s inconsistent, so don’t expect nonstop waves. Just a mediocre opener.
Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th are flat-out small. We’re talking 3ft to 3ft at best. The winds are glassy on Tuesday morning, but the swell is just too weak to get the reef working. Wednesday gets cross-on and it’s still tiny. Skip it.
Thursday the 10th brings the first real push: 7ft from the southwest with a 15-second period. The energy is strong (2117). But the wind turns onshore from the southeast, and by afternoon it’s blowing 20 km/h right into the face. The period is lovely and long, but that wind ruins it. Marginal.
Then the dark ages hit. Friday the 11th through Sunday the 13th, it’s all onshore southeast winds, 30 km/h, with rain and lumpy, blown-out waves. Size is still there – 5ft to 7ft – but it’s total junk. A three-day stretch of nothing.
The first real highlight is Monday the 14th. The wind swings offshore from the west-northwest. The swell drops to 4ft from the southwest with a 12-second period, and the energy is moderate (600). The morning is clean and glassy – light offshore. This is your best chance for a proper, lined-up session on the reef. Afternoon the wind picks up to 25 km/h offshore, so go early.
Tuesday the 15th is weird. The swell is down to 4ft, but the period goes absolutely crazy in the afternoon – 23 seconds. That’s some deep ocean groundswell. Energy is moderate (1273), but the wind cranks to 45 km/h offshore. It’ll be clean, but too windy to paddle into, and that ultra-long period will make it closed out. Not great.
And then Wednesday the 16th – this is the monster. 15ft from the west-southwest with a 16-second period. Energy is off the charts – 18371 – that’s very, very strong. The wind is offshore in the morning, and the tide is favorable. But I can’t sugarcoat this: this is way too big for Onrus. Over 8ft is expert-only, and this is nearly 15ft. This reef will be detonating. Only the most experienced locals on big-wave guns should even think about it. For everyone else, it’s a spectator day, and honestly, it’s not a recommendation – it’s a warning.
After that, it’s done. From Thursday the 17th through the 22nd, the wind stays onshore from the southeast or east, blowing 30-40 km/h, with rain and messy, lumpy conditions. The swell stays big for a few days but it’s all rubbish. The only two windows are Saturday the 19th afternoon with a little cross-off wind and 3ft – that’s clean but small – and Sunday the 20th morning, which looks like 6ft from the southwest with a 14-second period and light cross-off winds. That’s actually a decent, clean sesh if you can get out between the rain bands.
So, bottom line: the standout is Monday the 14th for clean, solid conditions. The 16th is the biggest swell but it’s too much for this break. And for the second week, Sunday the 20th morning is your best bet, but it’s not a lock. There are some long gaps of poor conditions, but it won’t stay flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1083 | 389 | 251 | 163 | 169 | 304 | 295 | 617 | 2117 | 1799 | 1198 | 808 | 658 | 578 | 1784 | 1754 | 2259 | 1550 | 1014 | 653 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:08AM1.36m | 1:37PM1.47m | 1:55AM1.47m | 2:17PM1.61m | 2:35AM1.55m | 2:53PM1.70m | 3:11AM1.59m | 3:27PM1.75m | 3:45AM1.60m | 3:59PM1.73m | 4:17AM1.56m | 4:30PM1.67m | 4:48AM1.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:05PM0.37m | 7:26AM0.25m | 7:53PM0.22m | 8:07AM0.13m | 8:34PM0.10m | 8:44AM0.06m | 9:11PM0.03m | 9:17AM0.03m | 9:45PM0.00m | 9:49AM0.04m | 10:16PM0.03m | 10:20AM0.09m | 10:46PM0.09m | |||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 24 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
1083 | 355 | 251 | 163 | 142 | 304 | 295 | 617 | 2117 | 1799 | 1198 | 808 | 658 | 578 | 1784 | 1754 | 2259 | 1550 | 1014 | 653 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | WSW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | S 8 | SW 17 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 |
7 | 389 | 188 | 94 | 169 | 26 | 13 | 177 | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 36 | 864 | 92 | 142 | 114 | 131 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 10 |
— | 4 | 42 | 62 | 26 | 1 | 9 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | 96 | 73 | 110 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | — | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 41 | 31 | — | — | — | 126 | 265 | 254 | 166 | 323 | 207 | 285 | 671 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 272 | 4 | 95 | 314 | 4 | 220 | 221 | 45 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
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.










