Onrus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Onrus. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s a tale of two halves—some real gems early on, then a beast of a groundswell that’s going to rewrite the rules.

The first few days are looking prime, with a clean, medium-sized SW groundswell that’s right in the sweet spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Thursday morning, July 16th, kicks it off with an 8ft SW swell at 13 seconds, pushing a ton of energy our way (2108). That’s a proper wave, but it’s only for the experienced crew—over 8ft, it gets heavy. The wind is a light cross-off from the WNW at 3 mph, so the surface is clean. This is a standout for the first week; the reef at Onrus is going to be firing with a bit of power behind it.

Friday, July 17th, is a treat. The swell drops to 6ft SW, but the period is still a solid 11 seconds, and the morning is glassy. Zero wind. That’s the kind of session you dream about. The wave energy is moderate (819), but the quality of the wave face will be immaculate. It’s the best on offer for the intermediate fella—clean, punchy, and no wind to mess it up.

Saturday, July 18th, the wind picks up a bit, but it’s still offshore from the NW at 9 mph, keeping the 5ft SW swell tidy. The energy is moderate (798). Sunday morning, July 19th, is clear and clean with a 6ft SW swell at 12 seconds (954 energy). Monday, July 20th, stays clean with a 5ft SSW swell, though the afternoon gets a bit of a blow from the W.

Now, pay attention. From Tuesday, July 21st, things get serious. A massive SW groundswell arrives, 10ft to 12ft with periods hitting 14-15 seconds. The energy values are off the chart—over 4000! This is a very long period groundswell, which means the waves will be powerful, thick, and have long lulls between sets. The reef at Onrus will handle it, but this is strictly for experts. The winds are strong offshore, making it look clean, but the size and power make it nearly impossible to paddle into. It’s a spectacle, not a surf session for most.

This over-sized swell persists through the second week, with the 25th and 26th of July still showing 12ft to 10ft SW swell with huge energy (4790, 5005). The wind is light or glassy, but the sheer size is the limiting factor. The period stays long, so the reef will be the only place to even consider it, and even then, it’s a gamble.

After a few days of onshore junk on the 27th and 28th, the 28th of July afternoon offers a reprieve: 6ft SW swell at 13 seconds, glassy conditions, and clean faces. The energy is moderate (1275). That’s a fine window for the experienced surfer to get back out after the madness.

The very end of the run, from the 30th of July into the 31st, is a total write-off for paddling. We’re talking 15ft to 18ft of SW swell with energy over 8000 and 17,000. The wind is cross-onshore or onshore, making it a messy, lumpy, dangerous beast. Even if the wind goes glassy on the 31st, 18ft of swell is too much for this break. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: The standout is Friday, July 17th, for the clean, glassy intermediate-friendly waves. The second standout is the afternoon of Tuesday, July 28th, for a clean, manageable session after the big stuff. The rest of the second week is either for experts only or a total pass. Stay smart out there.

Rusty.

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