Onrus Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° S 19.17° E

Onrus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Onrus sea temperature is
14.9° C
0.7° 

Onrus surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Onrus surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,626 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Wed 15th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Wed 15th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 5PM (Tue 21st Jul)11ft (3.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Onrus. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s a tale of two halves—some real gems early on, then a beast of a groundswell that’s going to rewrite the rules.

The first few days are looking prime, with a clean, medium-sized SW groundswell that’s right in the sweet spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Thursday morning, July 16th, kicks it off with an 8ft SW swell at 13 seconds, pushing a ton of energy our way (2108). That’s a proper wave, but it’s only for the experienced crew—over 8ft, it gets heavy. The wind is a light cross-off from the WNW at 3 mph, so the surface is clean. This is a standout for the first week; the reef at Onrus is going to be firing with a bit of power behind it.

Friday, July 17th, is a treat. The swell drops to 6ft SW, but the period is still a solid 11 seconds, and the morning is glassy. Zero wind. That’s the kind of session you dream about. The wave energy is moderate (819), but the quality of the wave face will be immaculate. It’s the best on offer for the intermediate fella—clean, punchy, and no wind to mess it up.

Saturday, July 18th, the wind picks up a bit, but it’s still offshore from the NW at 9 mph, keeping the 5ft SW swell tidy. The energy is moderate (798). Sunday morning, July 19th, is clear and clean with a 6ft SW swell at 12 seconds (954 energy). Monday, July 20th, stays clean with a 5ft SSW swell, though the afternoon gets a bit of a blow from the W.

Now, pay attention. From Tuesday, July 21st, things get serious. A massive SW groundswell arrives, 10ft to 12ft with periods hitting 14-15 seconds. The energy values are off the chart—over 4000! This is a very long period groundswell, which means the waves will be powerful, thick, and have long lulls between sets. The reef at Onrus will handle it, but this is strictly for experts. The winds are strong offshore, making it look clean, but the size and power make it nearly impossible to paddle into. It’s a spectacle, not a surf session for most.

This over-sized swell persists through the second week, with the 25th and 26th of July still showing 12ft to 10ft SW swell with huge energy (4790, 5005). The wind is light or glassy, but the sheer size is the limiting factor. The period stays long, so the reef will be the only place to even consider it, and even then, it’s a gamble.

After a few days of onshore junk on the 27th and 28th, the 28th of July afternoon offers a reprieve: 6ft SW swell at 13 seconds, glassy conditions, and clean faces. The energy is moderate (1275). That’s a fine window for the experienced surfer to get back out after the madness.

The very end of the run, from the 30th of July into the 31st, is a total write-off for paddling. We’re talking 15ft to 18ft of SW swell with energy over 8000 and 17,000. The wind is cross-onshore or onshore, making it a messy, lumpy, dangerous beast. Even if the wind goes glassy on the 31st, 18ft of swell is too much for this break. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: The standout is Friday, July 17th, for the clean, glassy intermediate-friendly waves. The second standout is the afternoon of Tuesday, July 28th, for a clean, manageable session after the big stuff. The rest of the second week is either for experts only or a total pass. Stay smart out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon).

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wed
22
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
!
4
4
4
3
3
2
3
2
4
3
2
2
3
1
4
!
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
1.6
SW
10
1.4
SW
10
1.6
SW
10
1.7
WSW
9
2.1
WSW
12
1.7
SW
12
1.3
SW
11
1.1
SW
11
1.4
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
10
2.1
SW
12
3
SW
15
3.5
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
WSW
13
3.5
WSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3519
2108
1452
1249
819
551
369
527
530
1248
792
391
304
433
382
1229
4351
4626
3543
2795
2904
Wind (km/h)
5
N
5
WNW
5
WSW
5
N
0
NNW
5
W
10
NW
15
WNW
20
W
20
NW
10
W
5
SW
5
NE
10
WSW
25
W
20
NW
45
NW
40
NW
25
NW
25
NW
25
WNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
4:29AM1.59m
4:57PM1.67m
5:12AM1.52m
5:38PM1.64m
5:54AM1.43m
6:19PM1.56m
6:36AM1.32m
7:00PM1.46m
7:20AM1.21m
7:44PM1.34m
8:10AM1.10m
8:34PM1.23m
9:16AM1.02m
Low Tide
10:27PM0.10m
10:42AM0.02m
11:12PM0.12m
11:22AM0.08m
11:56PM0.18m
12:01PM0.17m
00:40AM0.26m
12:39PM0.28m
1:24AM0.36m
1:19PM0.41m
2:12AM0.46m
2:05PM0.53m
3:12AM0.54m
3:08PM0.63m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:47
7:46
7:46
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:53
5:54
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
14
15
16
14
16
17
15
17
18
16
15
15
14
14
14
13
15
16
15
16
18
Feels °C
14
14
14
13
16
16
14
15
14
13
14
14
14
12
11
8
7
7
9
11
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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