
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 3,258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Swell's been a bit of a tease this stretch—plenty of size rolling in, but a lot of it’s been messy or just plain unfriendly. We kick things off Sunday the 13th with Onrus (Overstrand) seeing a solid 6ft SW groundswell at 14 seconds, but that easterly cross-onshore breeze is going to chop it up, and the water’s sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year. Not a great start, honestly.
Monday the 14th, the wind flips offshore—NW at 15 mph in the morning—and the swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the period’s still decent at 12 seconds. It’ll be clean, but there’s not much push. By Tuesday the 15th, the swell fades to nothing, 1ft, so that’s a write-off. It gets a little more interesting that afternoon with 4ft at 16 seconds, but the wind’s blowing a strong 25 mph offshore, making it hard work just to get out back.
Wednesday and Thursday, the 16th and 17th, are poor—onshore SE winds, and the swell jumps to 8ft and 8ft, but it’s lumpy and unruly. Friday’s no better, still cross-onshore and messy. We’ve got a solid gap of bad days here, nothing worth getting wet for.
Then, Sunday the 20th, things finally line up. Morning glass—zero wind—with 5ft of SW swell at 13 seconds. That’s the pick of the bunch early on: clean, smooth, and a proper shoulder to work with. It’s only a morning window though; the afternoon adds a light cross-shore breeze and the swell bumps up to 6ft, turning it a bit jumbled.
After that, it’s back to the grind. The 21st through the 25th are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with the swell sitting between 5ft and 8ft, but it’s all chop and lump. A lot of that energy is borderline, too—marginal tide issues and winds that just won’t cooperate.
The standout’s further out. Monday the 28th, morning starts with a WSW cross-off breeze and a chunky 12ft SW swell at 12 seconds. This is a proper groundswell, but it’s too big—Onrus is a reef, and 12ft is going to be closing out and just dangerous. The afternoon looks fun, though: 10ft at 12 seconds with NW offshore wind at 12 mph. That’s the best of the whole window—powerful, clean, and the kind of day you’d want to be at a reef for if you’ve got the skills. It’s over 8ft, so experts only, no doubt. That one’s the one to circle, but it’s a while out, so I wouldn’t lock it in just yet.
Second best is that Sunday morning the 20th, when it’s glassy and clean at 5ft—a much softer, friendlier option for a wider crew. But if you want size and power, that Monday the 28th afternoon is the big fish. Just be careful out there.
There’s plenty of swell in this run, but the wind’s torn most of it to shreds. Keep your eye on the 28th and maybe the early 20th. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 7 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1463 | 961 | 663 | 374 | 268 | 270 | 117 | 897 | 3108 | 2066 | 1945 | 1137 | 997 | 851 | 798 | 1423 | 1144 | 799 | 453 | 821 | 744 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:30PM1.67m | 4:48AM1.49m | 4:59PM1.58m | 5:18AM1.40m | 5:29PM1.45m | 5:48AM1.29m | 5:59PM1.31m | 6:20AM1.17m | 6:32PM1.17m | 7:03AM1.04m | 7:21PM1.04m | 8:35AM0.94m | 9:27PM0.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:20AM0.09m | 10:46PM0.09m | 10:49AM0.17m | 11:15PM0.19m | 11:18AM0.28m | 11:43PM0.30m | 11:46AM0.40m | 00:13AM0.43m | 12:16PM0.52m | 00:49AM0.55m | 12:56PM0.65m | 1:53AM0.67m | 2:37PM0.76m | 4:44AM0.69m | |||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 7 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
1463 | 961 | 663 | 374 | 268 | 86 | 116 | 897 | 3108 | 2066 | 1945 | 1137 | 997 | 851 | 798 | 1423 | 1144 | 799 | 418 | 821 | 744 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SE 13 | E 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | E 10 | — | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SE 4 | ESE 7 |
59 | 37 | 57 | 79 | 38 | 187 | 72 | 7 | 66 | 101 | 700 | 345 | 73 | 104 | 2 | — | 12 | 245 | 453 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | SE 12 | — | — | ESE 13 | SW 18 | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | ESE 7 | — |
62 | — | 35 | — | — | 16 | 117 | — | — | 24 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SSE 7 | WNW 3 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | S 5 | — | S 6 | SE 6 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | — |
766 | 73 | 5 | 139 | 223 | 270 | 141 | 448 | 60 | — | 194 | 95 | 4 | 24 | 7 | 10 | 46 | 27 | 9 | 87 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 0 | 103 | 155 | 38 | 270 | 272 | 10 | 4 | 247 | 4 | 23 | 89 | 45 | 23 | 4 | 10 |
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.










