
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 7,686 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s 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 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 5PM. 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the only spot on the menu: Onrus. This is a reef setup, and it’s a bit of a moody one – inconsistent, but when it turns on, it can be a beauty. We’re looking at a 16-day window starting now.
The first few days are a mixed bag of clean-ish waves and iffy winds, but patience is key. Early on, Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd serve up some clean, cross-off swell around the 6 ft to 7 ft from the SW, with a solid 12-second period. It’s not the biggest, but the offshore streaks will keep it tidy. The energy is strong, sitting around 1200 to 1850 (combined energy), so there’s some push behind it. Crowds are possible here, so keep an eye out.
The real standout, the one that gets my heart pumping, lines up for Friday, the 24th of July. We’ve got a solid 10 ft SW swell pumping in with a very long 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 4251 (very strong). Now, the wind is light and cross-shore, which is okay, but the size is the headline. This is expert territory only – over 8 ft and reeling, it’ll be too much for most. With that long period, expect it to unload on the reef, not the beach. It's a true test.
After that, things get a bit messy. Into the weekend, winds turn onshore and the quality drops. We get a bit of a reprieve on Sunday morning the 26th, with glassy conditions and 6 ft swell, but the energy is moderate (957). A nice, calm session, but nothing to write home about.
Then we hit a rough patch. From Monday, the 27th, through to the end of the month, the onshore winds howl, and the swell gets big and ugly. That 12 ft SSW swell with 17-second period on Monday afternoon is a monster, but it’s blown out. The energy is eye-watering at 14693, but it’s a kiter’s day, not a surfer’s. The conditions are poor, and the wind is straight onshore. The next few days are a write-off for a clean wave.
The second week kicks off with a change of pace. Thursday the 30th brings a fresh 5 ft SW swell with a gentle offshore wind. It’s clean, with good energy (809). Then Friday the 31st of July looks magic: a glassy morning, 5 ft SW swell, and a 13-second period. The energy is moderate (1090), but the conditions are perfect. That’s the other standout – a quieter, more accessible day for the intermediate crew.
Looking further out, we’ve got a promising run starting on the 4th of August. Tuesday the 4th has a 7 ft WSW swell with a 16-second period, light offshore winds, and a huge combined energy of 3716. Clean, powerful, and long. Wednesday the 5th holds similar size and wind quality. And Thursday the 6th of August is a beast: 12 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is a massive 4562. That’s another expert-only session with a glassy, clean face. These are promising, but remember, it’s a long way out, so treat it as a hopeful look.
Overall, the best bets are Friday the 24th for the big, expert swell, and Friday the 31st of July for the glassy, clean conditions. Expect a few rough days in between, but Onrus will reward the patient.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1497 | 1125 | 1031 | 889 | 1462 | 1302 | 7024 | 4251 | 3419 | 2035 | 1305 | 1500 | 1088 | 846 | 907 | 1474 | 1031 | 7686 | 4636 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:34PM1.23m | 9:16AM1.02m | 9:41PM1.14m | 10:45AM1.00m | 11:04PM1.11m | 12:12PM1.04m | 00:20AM1.14m | 1:12PM1.12m | 1:16AM1.21m | 1:55PM1.21m | 1:58AM1.29m | 2:31PM1.31m | 2:34AM1.36m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:12AM0.54m | 3:08PM0.63m | 4:32AM0.59m | 4:43PM0.67m | 5:58AM0.57m | 6:16PM0.65m | 7:01AM0.50m | 7:17PM0.57m | 7:46AM0.42m | 8:01PM0.49m | 8:23AM0.33m | 8:37PM0.40m | |||||||
— | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | |
5:53 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
1497 | 1125 | 1031 | 889 | 1462 | 1302 | 7024 | 4251 | 3419 | 2035 | 1305 | 1500 | 1088 | 846 | 907 | 1474 | 1031 | 6086 | 4636 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SE 13 | SW 20 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 17 | — |
13 | 72 | 111 | 187 | 7 | 552 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 19 | 509 | 25 | 103 | 107 | 217 | 67 | 589 | 921 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 11 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 23 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | — | ESE 10 | SE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — |
— | 5 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 38 | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 11 | 4 | 34 | 8 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 4 | NW 5 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | SSW 17 | SSE 8 |
— | — | 21 | 73 | 373 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 7686 | 707 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 31 | 10 | 199 | 0 | 30 | 10 | 32 | 10 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 4 | 40 | 220 |
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.










