Dondra Surf Break

Lat Long: 5.92° N 80.60° E

Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Dondra sea temperature is
27.9° C
0.2° 

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


Dondra surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 659 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period with S swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:

The surf forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) 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 1.8m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (+0530) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 10s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 24th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 30th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s

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 cookin'.

Alright, straight up—this is a tough one. Dondra is our only spot on the menu, and for the first few days, it’s a real struggle. We’ve got a mix of poor surf conditions and marginal forecasts, with a moderate cross-shore wind that’s kicking up a chop. Not much to get excited about.

We’re looking at Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th, and honestly, it’s flat and messy. Swell is tiny, around 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is cross-shore, making it choppy. The water temp is a lovely 82°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so that’s a silver lining. But for surf? Not worth paddling out.

Things start to look a little more interesting from Saturday the 25th onwards. The swell picks up to 5ft from the SSE, but it’s still a bit junky with cross-shore winds. The energy is getting there, though—we’re seeing moderate wave energy around 795 (combined energy). The real story starts to shift on Sunday the 26th afternoon, when the wind turns cross-offshore from the W. That’s clean. The swell is 5ft from the SE, period around 11 seconds, and the energy is still moderate (763). It’s not pumping, but it’s surfable and clean.

Now, the standout window is shaping up from the end of July into early August. The best of the best looks like Sunday the 2nd of August and Monday the 3rd of August. Swell is sitting at 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with a long period of 14 to 16 seconds. That’s some proper groundswell, and the wind is clean cross-off from the W. The energy is moderate to strong (around 1173 to 1461). Dondra is a reef break, so that long-period swell will wrap in nicely, giving you lined-up walls. It’s inconsistent, so you’ll have to wait for the sets, but when they come, they’ll be worth it.

The biggest size comes later, around Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August, with swell heights hitting 5ft from the SSW, period 16-17 seconds. That’s getting into intermediate territory, and with a clean cross-offshore wind, it’ll be hollow. The energy is strong (over 1600). This is for the more experienced crew.

A word of caution: Dondra is a sometimes crowded spot, so expect a few locals out. And it’s inconsistent, so be patient. Overall, don’t hold your breath for the first week, but the second week has some serious promise. The long-range stuff looks good, but we’re a week out, so keep an eye on the charts.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
0
1
2
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
2
1
0
2
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
12
1
S
10
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
1
S
10
1.2
SSE
10
0.9
SSW
16
1.5
SSE
10
1.6
SE
11
1.5
SSE
11
1.4
SE
11
1.3
SE
10
1.2
SE
10
1.1
SE
10
1
SE
10
1
SE
10
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
1
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
20
0.8
SSW
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
145
190
251
217
214
258
382
436
593
523
408
335
284
251
196
192
259
277
400
505
475
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
20
WSW
15
W
20
WSW
20
W
15
W
25
WSW
20
WSW
15
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
W
25
W
20
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
W
25
W
20
W
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:42PM0.27m
10:33AM0.36m
00:35AM0.28m
12:16PM0.39m
1:26AM0.32m
1:06PM0.43m
1:55AM0.35m
1:42PM0.47m
2:21AM0.39m
2:11PM0.50m
2:46AM0.42m
2:38PM0.53m
3:11AM0.45m
Low Tide
3:41PM0.26m
1:50AM0.23m
6:49PM0.22m
5:10AM0.24m
7:26PM0.18m
6:39AM0.21m
7:54PM0.14m
7:23AM0.18m
8:19PM0.10m
7:57AM0.14m
8:42PM0.06m
8:27AM0.12m
9:05PM0.04m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
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
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:25
6:25
6:25
6:25
6:24
6:24
6:24
 mm
2
1
1
2
1
5
4
2
2
2
2
4
Temp °C
30
30
27
30
30
27
29
29
27
29
29
27
29
29
27
28
28
27
29
29
27
Feels °C
31
31
30
31
30
29
29
29
29
29
28
29
29
28
29
28
28
29
29
29
29
  • 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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