Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,518 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s heading our way for Onrus.
We’ve got a bit of a classic setup here for the next couple of weeks. The first few days are going to be a write-off unless you’re a madman – a big, powerful SW groundswell is going to be way too chunky for the reef. That big energy (3257) on Tuesday the 1st is just too much, and the swell is 10ft, so that’s a hard pass for anyone but the most experienced. Even the glassy Wednesday morning (2nd of September) with that 10ft SW swell and 13-second period from the south-west is going to be a beast. The wind is perfect, absolutely glassy, but the swell is just too meaty for the break. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about average for the time of year.
After that, we get a messy run of onshore winds from Thursday through to the weekend. The energy drops (between 340 and 1636) but the wind is just rubbish, especially Friday and Saturday with strong cross-onshore winds up to 28 mph. Not worth paddling out for.
The good news starts to arrive from Monday the 7th. The morning session is the pick of the whole run. The wind is a clean, light offshore from the WNW, and the swell has dropped to a manageable 4ft from the SSW with a solid 14-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and with the reef at Onrus, those long-period lines will bend in nicely. The energy is still moderate (863), but it’s clean and the forecast is for very good surf. Get in the water early. The afternoon is a bit windier, but still okay.
The rest of the first week and into the second is a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 8th has clean surf in the morning with a 3ft SSW swell, and Wednesday the 9th is similar but smaller. These are good, clean options for a quick session, but nothing to write home about.
Then the wind turns nasty again from the 10th, with a few days of onshore slop. The energy picks up a bit, but the wind is cross-on and messy. Not the time to be out.
The final window of interest comes on Saturday the 12th. The morning looks clean with a light offshore breeze and a 4ft SW swell. The afternoon has a bit more size (6ft) but the wind goes cross-shore, so it’s a bit of a gamble.
Looking further ahead, the 16th of September shows a big pulse of long-period SW swell (16 seconds, 2732 energy) arriving, but the wind is from the east and cross-on, so conditions are likely to be messy. This one is a distant promise, but it’s not looking like a classic.
So, the standout? Without a doubt, Monday morning, the 7th of September. The glassy conditions, the clean offshore wind, and that solid SSW groundswell will make it the best waves of the entire forecast. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” at Onrus, so on a good day like this, you might share it with a few others, but it’ll be worth it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Sat afternoon, light winds from the N by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3518 | 2802 | 2381 | 1697 | 885 | 1681 | 1422 | 575 | 394 | 237 | 209 | 183 | 855 | 2921 | 1697 | 1123 | 1099 | 984 | 371 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:00AM1.36m | 6:18PM1.46m | 6:47AM1.24m | 7:09PM1.32m | 7:53AM1.12m | 8:28PM1.19m | 9:44AM1.06m | 10:28PM1.15m | 11:40AM1.14m | 00:06AM1.23m | 12:49PM1.30m | 1:08AM1.36m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:55PM0.20m | 11:59AM0.29m | 00:39AM0.31m | 12:45PM0.42m | 1:37AM0.44m | 1:53PM0.55m | 3:13AM0.54m | 3:56PM0.62m | 5:16AM0.51m | 5:56PM0.53m | 6:34AM0.38m | 7:05PM0.37m | |||||||
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
6:23 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 26 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | S 9 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 |
3518 | 2802 | 2381 | 1697 | 885 | 377 | 269 | 575 | 118 | 94 | 209 | 183 | 855 | 2921 | 1697 | 1123 | 1099 | 984 | 371 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | SSW 12 |
— | — | — | 183 | 133 | — | — | 140 | 66 | 99 | 57 | 38 | 118 | 14 | 13 | 35 | 28 | 12 | 322 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | SW 25 | WSW 10 | — | S 12 | — | SSE 13 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 65 | — | 25 | 18 | — | 11 | — | 18 | 140 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 5 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | — | WNW 3 | W 5 | W 4 |
— | — | — | — | 320 | 1681 | 1422 | 44 | 394 | 237 | 109 | 138 | 97 | 73 | 63 | — | 9 | 45 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 10 | 32 | 0 | 4 | 335 | 2651 | 335 | 302 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 40 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 155 | 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.











