Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 2,273 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM. 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, looking at the forecast for Dondra. It’s a tricky run ahead, with nothing that really screams “drop everything and go.” The whole 16-day window is a series of marginal calls, so don’t expect any magic days. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no nasty surprises there.
The first few days from Monday the 24th of August through to Wednesday the 26th are small. Swell hangs around 3 ft to 5 ft from the SSW, with a long period of 15–17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, but the energy is fickle—ranging from 1017 to 976 (moderate). Winds are cross-off from the west, keeping things clean, but the wave comment says it’s a marginal surf forecast. It’s a reef break that’s inconsistent and sometimes crowded, so you might get a few clean ones, but it’s not firing.
Now, Thursday the 27th of August sees a bit more size. The morning pushes 6 ft from the SSW, period 17 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 2542 (strong). Winds are cross-off, so it’s clean. The afternoon drops to 5 ft but still has good energy at 1649. This is the best on offer in the first week. The thing is, at 6 ft, it’s still in the intermediate zone, not too big for most, but the inconsistency makes it a gamble. The long period means it’ll peel nicely on the reef, but expect long lulls between sets.
The second week starts with a bit of a drop. Friday the 28th of August has 5 ft but cross winds from the WSW at 15 mph, making it lumpy. The energy drops to 1121–1163 (moderate). Saturday the 29th is smaller, 4 ft, with cleaner cross-off winds. Sunday the 30th looks interesting with 4 ft–5 ft from the SSW, period 18–19 seconds, and energy builds back to 1845 (strong) in the afternoon. That’s a standout for the second week—clean, long-period groundswell, but still a marginal call.
The end of the window, from Monday the 31st of August, sees a peak in size. The morning hits 7 ft from the SSW, period 18 seconds, and energy is 3108 (strong). That’s getting into expert territory—over 8 ft would be too big for beginners, but here it’s just at the edge. The winds are cross-off, clean. The following days hold 6 ft–7 ft, but winds turn a bit cross on Tuesday the 1st of September, creating a lumpy chop. After that, it tapers off into the 3 ft–4 ft range with shorter periods, and the energy drops to 271 on the 8th of September, which is weak.
Overall, the standout moment is the stretch from the 27th of August through to the 31st of August. The swell is solid, the period is long, and the winds are mostly offshore. But it’s inconsistent and often crowded, so you’ll be competing for waves. The rest of the run is small and marginal. Keep your expectations in check.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 20 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
563 | 499 | 778 | 1037 | 957 | 802 | 232 | 715 | 620 | 644 | 1800 | 1346 | 1665 | 983 | 1106 | 649 | 468 | 468 | 932 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:47AM0.33m | 1:07PM0.42m | 1:52AM0.38m | 1:32PM0.47m | 2:07AM0.42m | 1:56PM0.50m | 2:26AM0.47m | 2:19PM0.53m | 2:47AM0.51m | 2:43PM0.55m | 3:09AM0.54m | 3:06PM0.55m | 3:32AM0.57m | ||||||
Low Tide | 6:58AM0.22m | 7:46PM0.13m | 7:25AM0.17m | 8:01PM0.08m | 7:50AM0.13m | 8:19PM0.04m | 8:15AM0.09m | 8:37PM0.01m | 8:41AM0.06m | 8:57PM-0.01m | 9:07AM0.04m | 9:18PM-0.02m | |||||||
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 20 |
563 | 488 | 488 | 1037 | 957 | 802 | 232 | 715 | 620 | 610 | 1800 | 1346 | 1665 | 983 | 1106 | 649 | 468 | 468 | 932 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 20 | SSE 9 | W 10 | SSE 8 | W 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 13 |
522 | 499 | 778 | 54 | 52 | 68 | 103 | 72 | 84 | 644 | 507 | 111 | 47 | 81 | 57 | 19 | 32 | 230 | 350 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | SW 19 | W 9 | S 24 | SSW 12 | S 8 | — | SSW 13 | — | W 9 | — | W 9 | SW 20 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
20 | 30 | 33 | — | — | 15 | 61 | 11 | 117 | 100 | — | 192 | — | 57 | — | 38 | 101 | 32 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 5 |
91 | 64 | 54 | 69 | 102 | 64 | 56 | 66 | 155 | 168 | 235 | 52 | 74 | 59 | 55 | 43 | 81 | 71 | 55 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 895 | 895 | 895 | 746 | 174 | 895 | 485 | 174 | 174 | 175 | 174 | 395 | 787 | 676 | 895 | 175 | 174 | 395 | 175 |
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.











