Dondra Surf Break

Lat Long: 5.92° N 80.60° E

Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Dondra sea temperature is
28.2° C
0.7° 

Dondra surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Dondra surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, S swell with 2,117 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (+0530) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful11PM (Fri 7th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Dondra.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag ahead, with a long stretch of marginal surf. The swell is inconsistent and the conditions are often tricky, so you’ll need to be patient. The main event looks like it arrives in the second week.

We start off with a bit of a wait, but the first real pulse of interest shows up on Monday the 3rd of August. The afternoon sees a 7ft swell from the west, with an 11-second period. The combined energy is a solid 1637 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is a cross-off from the west at 16 mph, which keeps the surface clean. The water is sitting at 83°, which is about average for this time of year. Dondra is a reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a constant stream of waves. The crowds are sometimes a factor. The recommended swell direction is from the southwest, and this westerly swell is a little off that, so it’s not the best alignment.

The surf stays in the 5ft to 6ft range through the rest of the first week, with periods hitting 15 seconds and longer. The energy stays moderate, with the combined energy figures sitting between 1424 and 2024. The wind remains a consistent cross-off from the west or west-northwest, keeping things clean. However, the forecast is littered with notes of risk of thunderstorms, especially from the 5th through the 9th. The swell direction shifts to the south and south-southwest, which is a much better match for the optimum southwest direction. The waves are there, but the quality is described as marginal, and the scores are low. It’s a tough one to call.

A real standout arrives on Tuesday the 18th of August. We get a solid 8ft swell from the south-southwest, with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 5110, which is strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is a clean 16 mph cross-off from the west. For Dondra, a reef break, this is a prime setup. The long period will offer some real power, but it might make the wave a bit too lined up for a beach break. Still, at Dondra, this is the best on offer. Because the swell is over 8ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers. The morning of the 18th is also solid, with a 7ft swell from the south, with an 18-second period and a combined energy of 3744.

The second week sees a definite drop in energy. The combined energy figures fall to between 344 and 1623. Swell heights drop to between 2ft and 4ft, with long periods still present. The wind stays cross-off, but the surf becomes much smaller and less consistent. The 15th and 16th of August look particularly weak, with very little to work with.

So, the call is clear: the moment to get excited about is the 18th of August. That south-southwest groundswell with the long period and clean wind will be the best of the window. The earlier part of the period has waves, but the quality is marginal and the conditions are a bit messy. Be patient, and aim for that final Tuesday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Mon
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
11
1.3
SSW
17
1.4
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
15
1.4
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
19
1.8
SSW
18
1.6
SSW
17
1.7
SSW
16
1.6
S
16
1.5
S
14
1.5
S
14
1.3
S
17
1.9
S
16
1.7
S
15
1.7
S
16
1.5
S
14
1.8
S
17
1.2
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
883
1003
998
974
736
845
959
1929
1450
1531
1248
931
918
946
1855
1327
1402
865
1929
734
Wind (km/h)
25
W
20
WNW
30
WNW
25
WNW
25
W
25
W
25
W
30
W
30
W
25
W
30
W
30
W
25
WNW
25
W
30
W
30
W
25
W
25
W
25
W
25
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
4:47PM0.48m
5:25AM0.51m
5:14PM0.44m
5:59AM0.48m
5:40PM0.38m
6:40AM0.45m
6:07PM0.33m
7:44AM0.41m
6:31PM0.27m
10:23AM0.39m
00:37AM0.27m
12:23PM0.42m
1:23AM0.33m
Low Tide
11:01PM0.03m
11:29AM0.13m
11:25PM0.06m
12:08PM0.17m
11:52PM0.10m
12:59PM0.21m
00:21AM0.15m
3:03PM0.26m
1:06AM0.20m
7:02PM0.21m
5:11AM0.23m
7:28PM0.15m
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:23
6:23
6:23
6:23
6:22
6:22
6:22
 mm
2
1
3
3
3
3
1
2
5
2
2
5
2
2
5
4
2
3
Temp °C
26
26
28
29
27
27
27
26
28
27
26
28
28
26
28
28
26
27
27
26
Feels °C
25
26
26
28
28
28
27
26
27
27
26
28
27
26
27
27
26
27
27
26
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Dondra Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Dondra provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dondra can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dondra 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 (Dondra) 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 Dondra 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.

Dondra is 8 km (5 miles) from Matara. If you plan a holiday in West Sri Lanka, look for hotels and other accommodation in Matara. Matara has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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