Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s cookin’ for our local spot, Dondra. This is a reef break that’s wide open to the swell, likes it coming from the south-west, and needs that north-northwest wind to blow offshore. Only problem is, this place is inconsistent – it don’t fire often, so you gotta pick your moment. Water temp is 83°, about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

First real chance of anything worth paddling out for hits on Wednesday the 2nd of September. Swell’s pushing up to just over 5ft from the south-southwest, with a long period of 15 seconds. That energy reading is strong at 1348 – there’s some push behind it. But the wind’s a moderate cross-shore out of the west-southwest at 15 mph, and the notes say it’s “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide.” It’s a 2 out of 5 – a spot to watch, not to rush.

Thursday the 3rd cleans up real nice. Wind turns cross-offshore from the west at 15 mph, conditions are clean. Swell stays around 5ft from the south-southwest, period drops to 14 seconds, energy still solid at 1087. Thursday afternoon is similar but a touch weaker (932). Still, these are all a 2/5 – workable, but nothin’ special.

Friday the 4th, the swell drops to 5ft, period down to 13 seconds, energy fading (731). Saturday the 5th is smaller at 4ft, period a short 10 seconds, energy down to 511. Sunday the 6th is a total loss – swell drops to 3ft, conditions are poor, scores of 0. Monday the 7th is dead too.

There’s a real dead spell from September 6th through the 9th. Swell is tiny, conditions are poor or just marginal. Don’t bother.

Then on Wednesday the 10th, a new pulse of groundswell comes in from the south-southwest at 4ft, but the period jumps to a very long 17 seconds. Energy is strong again (1244). Wind is cross-offshore from the west at 18 mph, keepin’ it clean. Still, scores are 2/5 – better, but not a standout.

Now, the one you’ve been waitin’ for: Friday the 11th of September through Saturday the 12th. Friday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 6ft from the south-southwest, period 15 seconds, and the energy surges to 1782. Winds are cross-offshore from the west at 15 mph, conditions are clean, and it’s the only session that rates a 3/5. Saturday morning hits 7ft from the same direction, period 15 seconds, energy at 2057 – that’s a strong push, gettin’ into the big range, so it’s for the experienced crew. The cross-offshore wind holds at 15 mph, faces are clean. That Friday afternoon and Saturday morning are the clear standouts. Dondra is inconsistent, so when you get a long-period groundswell like that, clean wind, and the direction lockin’ in with the south-west optimum, you jump on it.

After that, Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th see the swell drop back to 5ft and then 4ft. Energy fades (1227 down to 979). Wind stays cross-offshore, but the quality drops to 1 or 2 out of 5. The rest of the month – Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th – is more of the same: 4ft to 5ft swell, moderate energy, consistent cross-offshore winds. Surfable, but nothing to get excited about. Dondra is a rare-firing reef, and this whole 16-day run is patchy, but that Friday 11th to Saturday 12th is the real window.

Rusty.

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