Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the surf outlook for Dondra. It’s a reef break that’s inconsistent, and it’s best with a south-west swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

The first bit of the forecast is a bit of a write-off, to be honest. We’ve got a long stretch of days with moderate cross-shore wind and a cross-chop, which is exactly what you don’t want. The swell is hanging around the 5 ft to 5 ft range from the south, but the wind is just messing it up. It’s a real bummer because the sets have some decent energy in the 1000 to 1200 range, but it’s all spoiled by the wind. This goes on right through the 23rd of August to the 25th.

Then, towards the afternoon of the 24th, the wind starts to shift to a cross-offshore, and the wave quality cleans up. You can see the magic start to happen on the 25th afternoon, with a nice 5 ft south swell, a 14-second period, and clean conditions. The energy is still moderate (885), but the clean face makes it all worthwhile. This cleaner trend holds through the 26th and 27th, but the swell is a bit inconsistent.

The real standout, the one you’d want to be in the water for, is the afternoon of the 31st of August. We’re looking at a solid 8 ft swell from the south-southwest, with a nice long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is a strong 3103, so there’s plenty of push. The wind is a clean cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a bigger swell, over 8 ft, so it’s for the experienced crew only. The longer period (17 seconds) means it’s a proper groundswell, and at a reef, it’s going to be a treat. The 30th of August afternoon also looks good with 5 ft and 18-second period, but the 31st is the pick of the crop.

After that, into the first week of September, the swell drops back a bit, but we still have cleaner conditions. The 1st of September has a 6 ft swell from the south-southwest, but the wind is back to cross-shore, so it’s not as good. The 2nd and 3rd see a return to cross-offshore winds and cleaner waves, but the swell size is around 5 ft.

The second week, from the 4th of September onward, the wind stays mostly cross-offshore, but the swell drops off significantly. The 4th has 5 ft with a short period from the south, and the energy is weak (789). The 5th has 5 ft and a period of 11 seconds, still clean. The 6th has a 3 ft swell from the south with a 16-second period, but the energy is weak (545). The 7th of September is a total write-off with only 3 ft from the west and a 9-second period, so it’s a no-go.

Overall, it’s a mixed bag. The first few days are a frustrating wait, but the end of August and the very start of September offer some proper sessions. The 31st of August is the one to circle on the calendar, but remember, it’s big and for experts only. The spot is inconsistent, so it’s a waiting game, but when it comes together, it’s a gem. Crowds are a possibility here, so get there early.

Rusty.

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