
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,303 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's see what's cookin'.
Truth be told, Dondra is pretty quiet to start. The first few days you’ve got some waist-to-chest-high swell, but the wind is all over it—cross-shore and messy. The water temperature is normal for this time of the year. This is a spot that doesn’t break all that often, and you can feel it in the forecast.
The real action starts kicking around Thursday, September 10th. Swell picks up to 4 to 5 feet from the SSW, and the wind swings cross-offshore, making it glassy. The combined energy is strong (1515), and with a very long period of 15 to 18 seconds, this is proper groundswell power. Dondra’s a reef, and that long period will wrap in well. The standout days are Friday, September 11th through Saturday, September 12th—head-high sets, clean conditions, and that long-period punch. Crowds are a certainty when it’s like this.
By Sunday the 13th, it eases back but stays clean. Into the second week, there’s still fun waves around the 14th and 15th, but it’s smaller. By Thursday, September 17th, it’s fading out fast, and Friday the 18th is back to poor.
If you’re picking one window, it’s the 10th through the 12th. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1223 | 1032 | 867 | 775 | 669 | 464 | 277 | 314 | 308 | 200 | 196 | 179 | 196 | 185 | 149 | 280 | 412 | 295 | 344 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:16AM0.50m | 5:02PM0.38m | 5:48AM0.45m | 5:15PM0.33m | 6:32AM0.38m | 3:53PM0.27m | 11:28AM0.35m | 1:19AM0.31m | 12:36PM0.40m | 1:25AM0.38m | 1:10PM0.45m | 1:46AM0.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:45PM0.06m | 11:29AM0.15m | 11:06PM0.11m | 12:05PM0.21m | 11:21PM0.17m | 1:47PM0.27m | 10:31PM0.23m | 7:11PM0.20m | 6:23AM0.23m | 7:15PM0.14m | 7:06AM0.17m | 7:33PM0.08m | |||||||
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
1223 | 1032 | 867 | 775 | 669 | 464 | 277 | 314 | 308 | 200 | 196 | 154 | 196 | 185 | 149 | 159 | 201 | 212 | 236 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | WNW 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | S 16 | SSW 14 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
35 | 46 | 32 | 28 | 37 | 42 | 127 | 82 | 153 | 133 | 137 | 179 | 124 | 116 | 57 | 280 | 412 | 295 | 344 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SE 8 | S 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | S 12 | WNW 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | W 10 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
39 | 25 | 32 | — | 25 | 22 | 42 | 115 | 102 | 198 | 100 | 70 | 24 | 149 | 146 | 50 | 39 | 29 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 4 | W 5 | WSW 4 | W 5 | W 9 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 |
54 | 62 | 51 | 44 | 44 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 99 | 16 | 25 | 43 | 57 | 59 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 788 | 175 | 787 | 175 | 746 | 787 | 4 | 788 | 788 | 175 | 676 | 787 | 41 | 765 | 787 | 788 | 174 | 788 | 175 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










