Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 9,400 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with S 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s. 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Onrus. This is a reef setup that needs a solid SW groundswell and clean conditions to really fire, and we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next two weeks.
The first few days are a write-off, I’m afraid. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are a total mess with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy, poor surf. You’d be better off staying home. The combined energy is high, 1884 on the 25th, but it’s a waste with that wind.
We start to see a glimmer on Thursday the 27th. A light west wind swings cross-offshore, cleaning up a 5ft SW swell with a decent 12 second period. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year. The break is inconsistent, but when it works, it’s a proper reef wave. Thursday morning and afternoon both look good, with a combined energy of 781, dropping to 693. The sets are clean and rideable.
Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are marginal. The swell drops and the wind stays on the cross, offering small, weak waves. Not worth paddling out unless you’re desperate for a water session.
Now, here’s the standout. Sunday the 30th is the pick of the early period. Sunday morning is looking glassy as glass with a light SSE breeze, zero wind, and a 7ft SW swell rolling in at 13 seconds. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, with a combined energy of 1548. It’s a bit on the big side for beginners, but for the crew who know the reef, it’s going to be clean and powerful. Crowds are on the table here, as it’s a well-known spot, so get in early.
Monday the 31st is still good, with a smaller 6ft SW swell and a light cross-offshore wind, giving clean waves again.
Then things get weird. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd show a massive pulse of SW swell, hitting 15ft with a combined energy of 6693. The wind is offshore, but the swell is simply too big for this reef. It’s a dangerous, washing-machine scenario. Kite surfers might have a field day, but for paddle surfing, it’s a skip.
Thursday the 3rd of September is another real gem. A glassy, calm morning with a 8ft SW swell at 12 seconds. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers again, with a combined energy of 1792. This is your second standout. The reef will hold this size well and the clean conditions will make for some memorable waves.
After that, the forecast drops off a cliff. Friday the 4th through Sunday the 6th are back to poor conditions with strong cross-onshore winds and tiny, messy surf. The combined energy plummets to 235 on the 5th.
The second week looks quiet but not completely dead. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th offer small, clean waves with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is tiny, around 3ft to 4ft. It’s a longboard or funboard zone. The Wednesday the 9th shows a little more promise with a clean 3ft SW swell and a 14-second period, giving you some long-period groundswell that will wrap nicely into the reef. It’s a promising but less certain call for the second week.
Overall, the best on offer is hands-down Sunday the 30th morning for the glassy, powerful 7ft swell, and then Thursday the 3rd of September for another glassy, 8ft session. Everything else is either too big, too small, or too windy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1733 | 1144 | 512 | 392 | 596 | 628 | 522 | 410 | 279 | 239 | 302 | 402 | 638 | 957 | 1527 | 1284 | 961 | 929 | 396 | 716 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:10PM1.34m | 2:15AM1.37m | 2:38PM1.46m | 2:45AM1.46m | 3:06PM1.56m | 3:15AM1.52m | 3:34PM1.64m | 3:45AM1.55m | 4:02PM1.68m | 4:16AM1.55m | 4:32PM1.68m | 4:48AM1.52m | 5:04PM1.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:19PM0.37m | 8:29AM0.23m | 8:48PM0.27m | 8:56AM0.15m | 9:17PM0.18m | 9:23AM0.10m | 9:46PM0.12m | 9:50AM0.07m | 10:15PM0.09m | 10:19AM0.07m | 10:46PM0.09m | 10:49AM0.11m | 11:19PM0.13m | |||||||
— | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 13 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
1733 | 1144 | 512 | 343 | 596 | 628 | 522 | 410 | 279 | 214 | 302 | 402 | 638 | 957 | 1527 | 1284 | 961 | 929 | 396 | 716 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | S 6 | SSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | S 10 | S 11 | SW 10 | SW 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 |
144 | 64 | 273 | 309 | 167 | 153 | 145 | 95 | 91 | 239 | 128 | 154 | 220 | 270 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 302 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 8 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | S 13 | WSW 16 | S 11 | SSE 11 | — | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | S 10 | — |
— | 104 | 366 | 392 | 193 | 108 | 26 | 87 | 123 | 63 | 82 | 223 | 86 | 39 | — | 12 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | E 4 | E 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | 24 | 94 | 90 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 45 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 4 | 50 | 50 | 95 | 0 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 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.











