Surf Forecasts:
Onrus surf forecast from 31 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: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,459 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Onrus in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Onrus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, looking at what's on the cards for the Onrus area over the next couple of weeks.
We've got a proper south-west groundswell pulse arriving early, but it's a game of two halves. The first week is a write-off for most, thanks to strong winds and messy conditions, but there's a decent window of clean, smaller surf in the second week. The real standout, however, is the very first day.
Onrus is a reef setup, so it needs the right direction and size. Water temps are about average for the time of year.
Tuesday, September 1st morning is the absolute pick of the entire forecast. We've got a solid 8 ft swell rolling in from the southwest, with a period of 13 seconds, packing a massive wallop of energy (2340). The wind is light at 3 mph from the WSW, keeping it cross-off and clean. This is proper, excellent surf, but it's only for experienced surfers at that size. The quality is there, but the power is real.
By Tuesday afternoon, the swell jumps to 10 ft (3257 energy) and the wind picks up to 9 mph from the west. It's still clean, but that's just too big for Onrus to handle well.
Wednesday morning is a similar story: 10 ft SW swell, but with a clean 3 mph ESE wind. Again, too big for comfort.
From Wednesday afternoon right through to Sunday, September 6th, it's a write-off. Cross-onshore winds and strong breezes dominate, with a brief spell of rain. The swell drops and fluctuates, but the wind just ruins everything. There's a messy, choppy, and poor stretch of surf for nearly a week.
Monday, September 7th morning is a bit of a relief. The wind swings around to a light 6 mph NE, keeping it cross-off, and the swell drops to 3 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period (497 energy). It's clean, but small. Expect good surf, but it's hardly a standout.
The next few days are then small and mostly ordinary. Tuesday, September 8th has a tiny 2 ft swell with a light offshore WNW wind, but it's very small. Wednesday, September 9th morning is glassy with a 2 ft, 15-second period SW swell, but again, it's tiny. This small, clean pattern continues, but the swell is too weak to get excited about.
Tuesday, September 15th brings a change. The morning is glassy with a 3 ft SW swell (299 energy). It's clean, but small. The afternoon is where it gets interesting. A 2 ft swell from the southwest with a very long period of 19 seconds (526 energy) and a 9 mph WNW cross-off wind. The period is extremely long, which means the energy is drawn out, but for a reef like Onrus, that can offer some great lines. It's very clean, and the forecast is very good.
Wednesday, September 16th morning is a cautionary note. A big 10 ft SSW swell (3102 energy) with a 16 mph NW offshore wind, which is clean. But at 10 ft, this is strictly for experts only at Onrus. It's a powerful, heavy swell.
So, for the best surf, you have to be ready on Tuesday, September 1st morning for the big, clean south-west swell. After that, the second week has a few clean but smaller days, with Tuesday, September 15th afternoon offering the most interesting, long-period lines. If you're a beginner or intermediate, the first two weeks are mostly too big, too windy, or too small.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SE by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | WSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1259 | 2340 | 3257 | 3355 | 2802 | 2354 | 1338 | 763 | 1099 | 955 | 489 | 422 | 97 | 173 | 137 | 1137 | 1417 | 871 | 250 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:22AM1.46m | 5:38PM1.57m | 6:00AM1.36m | 6:18PM1.46m | 6:47AM1.24m | 7:09PM1.32m | 7:53AM1.12m | 8:28PM1.19m | 9:44AM1.06m | 10:28PM1.15m | 11:40AM1.14m | 00:06AM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:19PM0.13m | 11:22AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.20m | 11:59AM0.29m | 00:39AM0.31m | 12:45PM0.42m | 1:37AM0.44m | 1:53PM0.55m | 3:13AM0.54m | 3:56PM0.62m | 5:16AM0.51m | 5:56PM0.53m | |||||||
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
6:22 | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 14 |
1259 | 2340 | 3257 | 3355 | 2802 | 2354 | 1338 | 763 | 589 | 265 | 196 | 163 | 79 | 173 | 137 | 1137 | 1417 | 871 | 250 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | SSW 9 | W 12 | — | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 134 | 141 | 75 | — | 116 | 18 | 97 | 68 | 56 | 105 | 367 | 259 | 186 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | SW 21 | WSW 10 | — | S 12 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 18 | 34 | — | 67 | 37 | — | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 668 | 1099 | 955 | 489 | 422 | 80 | 70 | 119 | 116 | 95 | 145 | 300 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 10 | 23 | 721 | 941 | 1525 | 1525 | 86 | 45 | 101 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 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.











