Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,308 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me break this down in feet and miles for you. We're talking about Onrus, a reef break that needs a SW swell and doesn't fire all the time. Water temp is normal for the season.
The first surfable day is Thursday, August 27th. We've got a solid 5-foot S swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy, dead calm. The combined energy is 1117 (moderate-strong), so plenty of power. The afternoon is a little smaller at 5 feet with a cross-off breeze. Thursday morning is the clear winner.
Friday the 28th starts with no wind and glassy conditions, but the swell drops to 4 feet from the S. It's still okay, but the energy is down to 493. The afternoon gets messy with a weak onshore breeze and a long-period 14-second swell that's just too small.
Saturday the 29th: morning has 3 feet from the WSW at 13 seconds, with a clean cross-off wind. Energy is 653 (moderate). The afternoon builds to 5 feet with a 14-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore and the energy jumps to 1104. More power, but lumpy. Sunday the 30th gets bigger, with 8 feet from the SW in the morning, but it's cross-shore and a bit rough. Energy is 1740 (strong). It's getting heavy for this reef.
Monday the 31st is a good call. Morning has 6 feet from the WSW at 12 seconds, with a 12 mph offshore wind from the WNW. Clean, moderate offshore. Energy is 892 (moderate). The afternoon holds at 6 feet with a cross-off breeze. Solid.
Tuesday, September 1st: morning is 8 feet from the SW, 12 seconds, with a fresh 19 mph offshore wind. Energy is 1960 (strong). That's expert-only. The afternoon blows up to 12 feet with a 35 mph cross-off wind. Energy is 3459, but it's too big for the break. Wednesday the 2nd is even bigger, with 13-foot swells. Not for the average surfer.
From Thursday the 3rd to Friday the 4th, a near gale from the SE trashes everything. We're looking at 10-12 feet of wind-blown junk. Energy is high, but it's a mess. Saturday the 5th is still too big at 12 feet, with a short 9-second period and a cross-on wind. Energy is 2041 (strong). This is more of a kite-surfing day.
Things settle on Sunday the 6th of September. Morning has 8 feet from the SSE at 9 seconds, with a gentle offshore from the NW. Energy is 1796 (strong). The short period makes it chunky, but the offshore wind will help. Still a big wave. After that, it fades fast. Monday the 7th is down to 6 feet, and by Tuesday the 8th it's tiny, with 1 feet at 11 seconds. The last few days are a write-off.
The best on offer: Thursday the 27th morning (Onrus, reef) – 5 feet, S swell, glassy, 12-second period, clean and powerful. The other standout is Monday the 31st morning – 6 feet, WSW swell, clean offshore wind, good energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the WNW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
596 | 628 | 513 | 410 | 279 | 239 | 361 | 317 | 1028 | 545 | 1729 | 1450 | 993 | 830 | 829 | 1293 | 1960 | 3459 | 5182 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:22AM1.46m | 5:38PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:22AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.20m | ||||||
— | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
6:20 | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | SW 8 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
596 | 628 | 513 | 410 | 279 | 174 | 361 | 317 | 1028 | 428 | 1729 | 1450 | 993 | 830 | 829 | 1293 | 1960 | 3459 | 5182 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 7 | S 10 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — |
167 | 153 | 150 | 126 | 91 | 239 | 98 | 116 | 61 | 545 | 11 | 10 | 98 | 51 | 2 | 10 | 6 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | S 13 | WSW 16 | ESE 8 | SSE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — |
193 | 336 | 12 | 57 | 123 | 63 | 82 | 220 | 14 | 38 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
274 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 10 | 0 | 92 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 60 | 72 | 25 |
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.











