
Surf Forecasts:
Arugam Bay surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Arugam Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Arugam Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Arugam Bay in the next 16 days are 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Arugam Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey everyone, Rusty here. Let's break down what's happening at Arugam Bay for the next couple of weeks. Water's about 84°, which is normal for the season.
We start on Sunday, September 13th, but it's a slow start. Morning has a 4ft SSW swell with a long 16-second period and a light cross breeze – combined wave energy is strong at 1207, but it's being called marginal. The afternoon drops to 4ft and turns cross-on. Not your best bet.
Monday the 14th is similar – 4ft SSW in the morning, cross breeze, but marginal with thunderstorms possible. Afternoon goes smaller and cross-on.
Now, Tuesday the 15th morning is a real bright spot. A 5ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period and a light cross-offshore from the NE. This is excellent for experienced surfers. Combined energy is a solid 1044. Clean, lined-up point. The afternoon goes onshore with storms, so hit it early.
Wednesday the 16th is the absolute standout. Morning is glassy with a 4ft SSW swell (14 seconds) – combined energy 1395. Then the afternoon, despite some rain, goes glassy again with a 7ft SSW swell. The period drops to 10 seconds, so it's a bit shorter but still clean. Combined energy jumps to a very strong 1612. This is the session to circle on your calendar.
Thursday the 17th starts to fall apart. Morning has a 20 km/h cross wind and a 4ft swell. The afternoon cleans up a bit with light cross-offshore, but energy drops to 786. Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th are poor with onshore and cross winds, dropping wave heights.
Sunday the 20th has a 5ft morning swell but a 20 km/h cross wind makes it lumpy. The afternoon picks up to 8ft but with a 30 km/h cross wind. Big, but messy.
From Monday the 21st all the way through to Sunday the 27th of September, we hit a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. Strong SW winds, mostly cross or cross-on, with moderate to fresh breezes creating lumpy, choppy surf. Swell sizes vary but the quality is gone. There’s a 7ft wave on the 21st afternoon but with a 7-second period and 25 km/h cross wind – just a bumpy mess.
Finally, on Monday the 28th of September, the morning turns glassy again with a long 19-second period SSW swell, but it's only 2ft. Combined energy is weak at 483. Clean, but barely any push. The afternoon goes cross-on and choppy again.
So, the bottom line: Wednesday, September 16th afternoon is your top pick – that 7ft glassy swell is a dream. Tuesday the 15th morning is your second best with clean 5ft waves and offshore wind. After that, prepare for a lot of windy, choppy days until a tiny glassy window on the 28th. The point at Arugam can get some company on the good days, so be ready for that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
838 | 715 | 491 | 610 | 562 | 1123 | 1014 | 687 | 549 | 507 | 951 | 512 | 773 | 580 | 465 | 361 | 257 | 459 | 1024 | 1137 | 1324 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:10PM0.15m | 4:17AM0.21m | 4:27PM0.15m | 4:13AM0.20m | 4:41PM0.14m | 4:06AM0.19m | 4:49PM0.13m | 3:56AM0.19m | 4:41PM0.12m | 3:43AM0.19m | 3:53PM0.10m | 3:28AM0.19m | 2:33PM0.10m | 3:14AM0.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:45AM0.06m | 9:45PM0.06m | 10:50AM0.06m | 9:47PM0.07m | 10:56AM0.06m | 9:42PM0.09m | 11:02AM0.06m | 9:22PM0.10m | 11:07AM0.07m | 8:47PM0.10m | 11:10AM0.08m | 8:02PM0.09m | 10:51AM0.09m | 7:46PM0.07m | |||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
— | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 3 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 10 | 3 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 34 | 34 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
838 | 715 | 491 | 610 | 562 | 1123 | 1014 | 687 | 549 | 301 | 443 | 412 | 773 | 580 | 465 | 361 | 257 | 459 | 1024 | 1137 | 1324 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 9 | SW 20 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SW 21 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
124 | 66 | 36 | 432 | 378 | 27 | 20 | 121 | 98 | 507 | 213 | 457 | 75 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 184 | 178 | 21 | 23 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | S 23 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 18 | ESE 7 | SSW 13 | — | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SW 20 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | — |
115 | 83 | 53 | 38 | 49 | — | 10 | 12 | 17 | 133 | 5 | 246 | — | 18 | 38 | 97 | 23 | 20 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
130 | 198 | — | — | — | — | — | 252 | 212 | 454 | 951 | 512 | 57 | 170 | 123 | 85 | 146 | 71 | 90 | 255 | 93 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 199 | 1090 | 0 | 448 | 1184 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 448 | 667 | 1064 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Arugam Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Arugam Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Arugam Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Arugam Bay 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 (Arugam Bay) 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 Arugam Bay 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.
Are you planning a holiday in East Sri Lanka? If you are looking for accommodation near Arugam Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in East Sri Lanka, consider staying in Ampara which is 53 km (33 miles) away. Other places in and around East Sri Lanka where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Kalmunai which is 64 km (40 miles) away, Badulla and Batticaloa.










