
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, W swell with 708 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about what we've got on the cards for Dondra.
Right off the bat, this isn't a classic run for the place. We're looking at a period of consistent, moderate westerly winds blowing cross-off the reef, keeping things reasonably clean, but the wave energy never really gets its act together for a proper standout. The water’s hanging around average for the time of year, sitting at 82°, nothing out of the ordinary there. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a grind.
We kick things off on Friday the 10th afternoon. There’s some waist-high swell coming from the SSW at about 5ft, with a period deep in the groundswell range at 14 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 1595 (moderate to strong), but the overall forecast is just marginal. It's surfable, but nothing to write home about. The wind is a steady cross-off shore from the west, so the face will be clean, but this is Dondra we're talking about – it's an inconsistent spot that needs a decent push, and this is just a two-foot setup.
The rest of the first week into the second just fizzles out. Saturday the 11th stays similar, but the swell drops in quality, and by Sunday the 12th we're looking at risk of thunderstorms and an even weaker picture. Honestly, from the 13th through the 19th, the combined energy drops off a cliff, dropping to as low as 300 (weak), with sizes barely breaking waist-high. The period is pretty short and messy for most of it. It's a real flat spell, and the forecast scores reflect that – don't hold your breath.
Then, just as we're about to give up hope, there’s a late pulse that looks slightly more promising. On Monday the 20th, we see the S swell come alive properly. In the afternoon, it bumps up to a very solid 6ft, with a long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 2067 (strong), which is the best reading of the whole outlook. The wind stays cross-off, so the lines should be holding up. At this size, with a period that long, you'd want to stick to the reef proper – it's an expert-only kind of wave if it gets clean, as it'll be powerful and walling up. Keep an eye on the 20th, but the rest of that week and into the 25th, we're back to inconsistent, smaller S/SSW swell in the 3ft range. The window ends with weak energy and a return to the same cross-off westerlies.
So what's the call? There's no full green light here. The only moment that deserves a look is the Monday the 20th afternoon. That S swell is the biggest and strongest we'll see, and if the wind plays ball, Dondra (Sri Lanka) could have some legit, powerful lines. But it's a rare, inconsistent spot, so you have to be ready to go when it shows up. The rest of the two weeks is a lean run, mostly for beginners on the small days, and even then the quality is low. Not one for the kite crew either, as the cross-off wind isn't ideal for that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fri 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
778 | 695 | 651 | 603 | 502 | 463 | 425 | 375 | 237 | 363 | 472 | 438 | 427 | 402 | 398 | 468 | 506 | 482 | 482 | 489 | 482 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:27PM0.28m | 12:05PM0.46m | 00:51AM0.32m | 1:04PM0.50m | 1:44AM0.37m | 1:51PM0.52m | 2:27AM0.41m | 2:31PM0.54m | 3:06AM0.45m | 3:06PM0.54m | 3:43AM0.48m | 3:39PM0.53m | 4:19AM0.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:09PM0.19m | 4:52AM0.18m | 7:10PM0.15m | 6:19AM0.16m | 7:52PM0.11m | 7:21AM0.13m | 8:28PM0.07m | 8:11AM0.10m | 9:01PM0.04m | 8:54AM0.09m | 9:33PM0.02m | 9:34AM0.09m | 10:04PM0.01m | 10:11AM0.10m | |||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | |
6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | 6:25 | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
778 | 490 | 372 | 367 | 417 | 304 | 377 | 365 | 237 | 363 | 472 | 416 | 287 | 284 | 284 | 279 | 506 | 482 | 482 | 489 | 482 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
47 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 108 | 295 | 381 | 438 | 427 | 402 | 398 | 468 | 229 | 212 | 170 | 128 | 98 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 24 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 20 | SSW 21 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SSE 13 | SSW 12 | SE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
49 | 47 | 81 | 75 | 11 | 54 | 33 | 77 | 151 | 24 | 10 | — | 33 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 31 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
721 | 695 | 651 | 603 | 502 | 463 | 425 | 375 | 176 | 200 | 190 | 214 | 209 | 171 | 145 | 150 | 126 | 96 | 98 | 81 | 102 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 788 | 175 | 167 | 176 | 175 | 176 | 395 | 175 | 174 | 174 | 175 | 175 | 395 | 175 | 175 | 174 | 175 | 167 | 174 | 175 | 167 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











