
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 5,831 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a single spot on the table, and it’s a reef set-up that loves a good SW groundswell. It’s a little inconsistent, but when it lights up, it’s worth the wait.
The coming days are looking pretty special. The water is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
We kick off on Friday the 17th with a clean, glassy afternoon. The swell is a solid 6ft out of the SW with a short period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 604. It’s not huge, but with that glassy surface, the waves will be clean and fun for an intermediate.
Saturday the 18th keeps the good vibes rolling. The morning has offshore NW wind at 6 mph, with 5ft SW swell and a period of 9 seconds. The energy ticks up to 633. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore breeze.
Sunday the 19th is where things get interesting. The morning brings a 5ft SW swell with a longer period of 12 seconds, and a solid offshore wind at 12 mph. The energy is 921, and it’s going to be clean and punchy. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-shore wind, but the morning is the pick.
Monday the 20th is a glassy morning, dead calm, with 5ft of SW swell. Not huge, but perfect for a long session. The energy drops to 497.
Tuesday the 21st is a standout. The morning is glassy, and the swell is 5ft from the SW with a very long period of 14 seconds, giving it a 727 energy reading. The afternoon is the absolute highlight: 7ft of SW groundswell, that same long 14-second period, and a cross-offshore wind. The energy jumps to 1464. This is quality, clean, powerful surf for the experienced crew.
Wednesday the 22nd is a big one, but it comes with a catch. The morning has a strong offshore wind at 22 mph, with 7ft of WSW swell at 13 seconds. The energy is a serious 1648. It’s big and clean, but that wind is fresh. The afternoon gets bigger, hitting 8ft with an energy of 2221, but it’s cross-offshore and a bit of rain is on the way. This is expert territory.
Thursday the 23rd cleans up nicely. The morning has 6ft of SW swell at 11 seconds, with a gentle offshore breeze and 940 energy. The afternoon is another cracker: 6ft of WSW swell, 12-second period, clean cross-off wind, and a high energy of 1434. This is a great day for a solid paddle.
Now, Friday the 24th – this one is a bit of a heartbreaker. The swell is predicted to be massive, 10ft to 12ft out of the SW with a 15-second period. The energy is 4054 and 4763. That is way too big for this reef. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s pushing the limits. The wind is light and glassy in the morning, but it switches onshore in the afternoon.
From Saturday the 25th through to the end of the month, the wind turns onshore and the conditions get messy. The swell stays big, but the quality drops. There are still some windows of clean surf, like Tuesday the 28th morning with a 5ft SW swell and a cross-offshore breeze, and Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th with glassy conditions and some nice long-period groundswell. But the real power is gone. The first week of August sees the swell drop right back to around 3ft to 3ft, with moderate offshore winds. It’s small, clean, and fun for a log or a fish, but nothing to get too excited about.
So, the best on offer is the afternoon of Tuesday the 21st and the afternoon of Thursday the 23rd. Those are the standouts. Get out there if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
588 | 369 | 335 | 338 | 465 | 734 | 564 | 709 | 281 | 150 | 239 | 661 | 1429 | 1857 | 1648 | 1955 | 1348 | 940 | 802 | 5831 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:41PM1.14m | 10:45AM1.00m | 11:04PM1.11m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:32AM0.59m | 4:43PM0.67m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | |
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 12 | SW 17 |
588 | 369 | 335 | 338 | 465 | 734 | 564 | 709 | 281 | 112 | 58 | 661 | 1429 | 1857 | 1648 | 1955 | 1348 | 940 | 802 | 5831 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | W 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 12 | SSW 11 | — |
16 | 77 | 175 | 269 | 291 | 112 | 54 | 30 | 150 | 150 | 239 | 31 | 14 | 12 | 45 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 270 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | W 10 | S 8 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — |
9 | 10 | 123 | 146 | 141 | 75 | 32 | 14 | 66 | 48 | 146 | 31 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 362 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | — | W 8 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | 110 | 266 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.










