Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First off, we’re looking at a solid run of surf ahead, but don’t let the numbers fool you into thinking it’s all perfect. The water is sitting at 82° – that’s pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The main event is Dondra, a reef setup that’s a bit fickle and inconsistent, but when it lines up, it can be special. The swell direction is coming from the SSW for the bulk of the forecast, which is a good match for what this place likes. The early part of the run, starting Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 25th, is a bit of a mixed bag with cross-shore winds and a few storms around. The waves are there, mostly around 3ft to 5ft, but the wind is messing with the quality. The combined energy is moderate to strong (1005 to 1299), but the conditions are just okay.

Things start to clean up nicely from the afternoon of Tuesday the 25th, when the wind swings to a cross-offshore direction. That’s a big plus. The swell ticks up to 5ft to 6ft, and the period is hanging around 14 to 17 seconds – that’s groundswell, so there’s some proper push behind it. The energy numbers are climbing into the strong range (956 to 3070), and the surf is getting cleaner. The best of this early stretch looks like Thursday the 27th afternoon, with a 5ft SSW swell at 17 seconds, clean conditions, and a solid wall of energy (1641). That’s a standout.

Now, the real gem might be the weekend of the 30th and 31st. Sunday the 30th kicks off with a 4ft SSW swell at a very long 19 seconds, and it’s clean. That’s some serious groundswell, and it’s going to wrap nicely into Dondra’s reef. The energy is through the roof (1624 to 1890). Monday the 31st pushes even bigger, with 8ft to 7ft SSW swell at 18 seconds. That’s a big, powerful swell. The combined energy is massive (3184 to 2647). This is expert territory – over 8ft makes it for the brave and the skilled. The wind stays clean and cross-offshore. That Monday the 31st morning is the true standout of the whole 16-day window. It’s powerful, lined up, and perfect for a reef break like Dondra.

There’s a notable gap in top-quality surf after the 1st of September. The swell drops off, the winds get a bit lumpy, and the energy fades. From the 3rd to the 6th, it’s mostly cross-shore or messy, with swells dropping to 2ft to 5ft and periods shortening. The combined energy falls to moderate levels (545 to 1040). It’s not a total write-off, but it’s definitely a step down. The 7th and 8th show a little uptick in cleanliness with some cross-offshore wind and longer period swell (16 to 18 seconds), but the wave heights are small, around 3ft to 4ft. It’s a mellow end to the run.

So, to sum it up: the best of the best is Monday the 31st of August, with a massive, clean SSW groundswell at Dondra. The Thursday the 27th afternoon session is also a cracker. After that, it’s a slow fade into smaller, cleaner surf for the patient ones.

Rusty out.

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