Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a window to get wet if you play it smart.

The overall picture is a long stretch of swell that’s constantly fighting with the conditions. It’s not flat, but it’s not clean, and that wind is the main pain for a lot of this. The water temp is 28°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The only break on the menu is Dondra, a reef that’s known for being inconsistent. Even when there’s swell, the quality is a real struggle. We kick off on Tuesday the 25th with some chest-to-head-high waves (5ft) coming from the south with a long period of 15 seconds. The energy is strong (1397), so there’s plenty of push, but a moderate cross-shore breeze from the WSW at 12 mph is going to chop it up. It’s not gonna be a beauty. The afternoon is more of the same.

Wednesday the 26th sees a drop in size (4ft), but the wind turns more cross-offshore from the west. The period stretches to 16 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The energy is still moderate (992). The faces will be cleaner, but it’s still a marginal session. Thursday the 27th is the real standout of the first week. The swell jumps to a solid 6ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 17 seconds and a massive energy reading of 3070. The wind is cross-offshore. This is the pick of the whole forecast. Expect powerful, lined-up waves at this reef. That long period means the sets will be spaced out, but the quality when they arrive is undeniable. It’s getting a bit heavy for beginners, but for the rest, this is the morning to be out there.

From Friday the 28th into the weekend, the swell holds in the 4ft to 5ft range, but the wind stays moderate. The energy drops back to moderate levels. The surf stays marginal, and it feels like something to do rather than something you’d chase.

After that good Thursday, we hit a bit of a lull. The energy drops significantly through the end of August and into the first days of September. The swell size bounces between 4ft and 7ft, but the wind is persistently cross-offshore and moderate. The quality is always flagged as “marginal.” If you’re keen, Monday the 31st of August has a 7ft swell with a 17-second period and strong energy (2907), but the wind is up and the forecast isn’t confident on the quality.

We roll into the first week of September. The size stays in the 5ft to 6ft range, with the energy slowly dropping. The wind holds from the west. It’s paddleable, but nothing to get excited about.

By Friday the 4th of September, the period drops to 11 seconds and the energy falls off a cliff. It’s a weekend of weak, short-period slop. The 5th of September is a total washout with poor surf conditions and very low energy (391). After that, the 6th to the 9th of September is a graveyard of very small swell, with periods barely scraping 10 seconds and energy under 600. The 8th and 9th have a little hope with 18 and 19-second periods on tiny 2ft to 3ft waves, but it’s a tease. The power is long, but the height just isn’t there for a proper ride.

So, the bottom line: Thursday the 27th of August is the one. That 6ft, 17-second SSW groundswell with cross-offshore wind is the standout session. The rest is a waiting game.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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