
Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 5,868 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, checking in for the local surf. Let's be honest, the window's about to open with a bit of a bang, but it's going to take some patience and a keen eye to pick the standouts. The first few days are a write-off, but we've got some solid potential lined up, especially for the crew who are happy to dodge the crowds and the big stuff.
We kick off on Monday, 27th July, with a solid, long-period groundswell hitting Onrus, but it's a total mess. A 12ft swell from the SSW with a 17-second period sounds incredible, but with a strong cross-onshore wind and a combined energy reading of 5868, it's just a lumpy, choppy nightmare. No-go. This carries on through Tuesday and Wednesday morning, with the wind staying nasty.
The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday afternoon, 29th July. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft from the SW, but the real magic is the wind going glassy. The combined energy is still moderate at 954, but with that clean surface, it's going to be fun. For a reef break that's exposed, that's a rare treat. The water's sitting at 60°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Thursday and Friday are a bit of a letdown. The swell fades, and the wind gets a bit annoying again. It's not terrible, but it's not worth jumping in for.
Then, Saturday, 1st August, is where it gets interesting. Saturday morning delivers a clean, 4ft SW swell (14-second period, combined energy 549) with a light cross-offshore breeze. That's a proper clean session. Then Saturday afternoon, it goes glassy with the same 4ft swell. This is a true standout for the weekend. The swell is a little weak, but the quality will be mint. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" at Onrus, so expect a few locals out, but nothing crazy.
Sunday, 2nd August, keeps the good vibes going. Clean, glassy conditions again with a 4ft to 4ft SW swell. The combined energy is around 470-485, so it's not a powerhouse, but it's a classic, fun-sized reef wave. Another solid day.
Now, here's the big one. Keep your eyes on Thursday, 6th August. Thursday morning is looking excellent for experienced surfers. A 8ft SW swell from the SW (14-second period, combined energy 2559) with a clean offshore breeze from the NW. That's a proper, powerful groundswell with good shape. However, at 8ft, this is expert territory, especially on a reef. The afternoon is a little smaller at 7ft, with a clean cross-offshore wind, which is still a great option.
The following week has a couple of other promising windows. Sunday, 9th August, morning has a 8ft SSW swell with a moderate offshore breeze, making it another excellent call for the experienced crew. The combined energy is 2489, so it's a proper, powerful swell. The wind picks up a bit in the afternoon, but it's still offshore.
The real standout, though, if you're an expert, is Friday, 7th August. Friday morning has a massive 15ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a light cross-shore wind. The combined energy is a staggering 10185. That's a monster. The file says it's too big for the break, and for most, it will be. But if you're a charger and know the reef, that's a day that could be the session of the year. The wind turns onshore in the afternoon, so it's a morning-only mission.
The first week is a washout, with the first real surf on Wednesday 29th July. The period from Saturday 1st August through Sunday 2nd August is the best for everyone, clean and fun-sized. Then the experts get their shot from the 6th onwards.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
5868 | 3899 | 2263 | 2218 | 1280 | 1151 | 933 | 919 | 669 | 600 | 537 | 373 | 282 | 217 | 514 | 431 | 560 | 456 | 479 | 309 | |
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-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:31PM1.31m | 2:34AM1.36m | 3:04PM1.39m | 3:07AM1.42m | 3:34PM1.47m | 3:39AM1.46m | 4:04PM1.53m | 4:10AM1.48m | 4:34PM1.57m | 4:41AM1.47m | 5:03PM1.58m | 5:13AM1.44m | 5:34PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:37PM0.40m | 8:55AM0.25m | 9:10PM0.33m | 9:24AM0.19m | 9:42PM0.28m | 9:52AM0.14m | 10:12PM0.24m | 10:20AM0.12m | 10:43PM0.22m | 10:48AM0.13m | 11:14PM0.21m | 11:17AM0.16m | 11:47PM0.23m | |||||||
— | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
5868 | 3899 | 2263 | 2218 | 1280 | 1151 | 933 | 919 | 669 | 600 | 537 | 373 | 282 | 217 | 514 | 431 | 560 | 456 | 479 | 309 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | — | — | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SW 16 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SW 13 |
— | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | 33 | 27 | 5 | — | 32 | 17 | 122 | 35 | 40 | 31 | 13 | 13 | 208 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 19 | SW 18 | SE 9 | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 49 | 36 | — | — | — | 15 | 6 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 372 | 176 | 31 | 21 | 186 | 21 | — | 18 | 7 | 52 | 268 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 247 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 38 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Overberg | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










