
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, SSE swell with 757 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period with SSW 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s talk Dondra. This is a reef break that’s exposed to the swell, but it’s inconsistent – it doesn’t fire all that often. Over the next 16 days, we’ve got a long stretch of clean but pretty average surf. The water temp is about normal for this time of year.
The first chance to get wet is Friday morning, July 24th. We’ve got a 0.7m (2ft) SW swell with a 15-second period, but the cross-shore wind and a cross-chop make it look poor. The combined energy is 491 (moderate). Not great. By Friday afternoon, the wind shifts cross-off, cleaning it up, but it’s still marginal.
Saturday, July 25th, sees a bump to 1.4m (5ft) from the SSE, but the period drops to 10 seconds and the wind is cross-shore again. The energy jumps to 919 (moderate), but the wind keeps it messy. Sunday morning the 26th is similar – 1.5m (5ft), 11-second period, 951 energy, but cross-shore wind. Sunday afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze and a 1.4m (5ft) SE swell – that’s about as good as the first week gets.
From Monday, July 27th, through to the end of the month, we’re looking at a consistent run of clean conditions thanks to cross-off winds, but the swell stays small – mostly between 0.7m (2ft) and 1.2m (4ft), and the energy sits in the moderate range (569 to 904). The period is often long, hitting 15 to 20 seconds – that’s groundswell, and at a reef break like Dondra, that’s a good thing. The problem is the size is just too small for any real punch.
The standout window comes right at the end of the first week and into the start of August. Friday, July 31st, afternoon shows a 1.1m (4ft) SSW swell, 18-second period, and the energy is strong at 1611. The wind is cross-off and clean. That’s your best bet for the whole outlook – it’s not big, but the quality of the swell and the clean conditions make it the pick. Saturday, August 1st, is similar with 1.2m to 1.3m (4 to 4ft) SSW swell, 16-second period, and energy around 1353 to 1466, but the wind freshens to 30 km/h (19 mph), which might put a bit of a bump on it.
Sunday, August 2nd, has a morning pulse of 2.1m (7ft) from the west, but the period is a short 8 seconds – that’s windswell, and it won’t be any good. The afternoon drops back to 0.9m (3ft) SSW with an 18-second period, and the energy is 1408. Clean again, but small.
From Monday, August 3rd, through to Thursday, August 7th, it’s much the same story: 1.0m to 1.4m (3 to 5ft) SSW swells, long periods of 14 to 19 seconds, clean cross-off winds, but the energy is moderate to strong (789 to 1998). The issue is it’s all marginal – the waves are just too small to get excited about. The 2.1m (7ft) pulse on the 2nd was the only time it pushed over 1.5m (5ft), but with short period and poor wind, it’s not worth the paddle.
The last day, Saturday, August 8th, has a 1.7m (6ft) S swell, 14-second period, 1298 energy, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h (19 mph) cross-off. It’ll be clean but a bit blown out.
So the honest truth: Dondra is inconsistent, and this forecast shows it. There’s nothing that’s going to make you cancel your plans. The best of a very average bunch is Friday 31st July afternoon – that 1.1m (4ft) SSW groundswell with clean conditions and strong energy is the only moment that might give you a couple of decent waves. For the rest, it’s small, clean, and frustrating. If you’re a beginner, it’s fine – nothing over 1.5m (5ft) except that one morning. If you’re experienced, you’ll be waiting for a proper swell. It’s a dry spell, but forecasts change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 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) | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSE 10 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
164 | 217 | 214 | 258 | 410 | 386 | 686 | 523 | 458 | 335 | 284 | 256 | 196 | 196 | 259 | 277 | 400 | 400 | 376 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | 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 | 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 | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 14 | SE 10 | SSW 13 |
106 | 142 | 148 | 258 | 410 | 386 | 686 | 523 | 458 | 335 | 284 | 256 | 196 | 196 | 192 | 163 | 400 | 138 | 253 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 16 | SE 10 | SSW 14 | SE 10 |
74 | 217 | 214 | 229 | 382 | 303 | 394 | 316 | 331 | 269 | 265 | 144 | 136 | 131 | 128 | 277 | 188 | 293 | 133 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SE 8 | WNW 10 | W 7 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | W 10 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
164 | 43 | 43 | 10 | 10 | 56 | 50 | 112 | 125 | 112 | 141 | 169 | 164 | 188 | 259 | 131 | 94 | 400 | 376 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | WSW 4 | W 10 | W 4 | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | WSW 6 |
13 | 89 | 84 | 80 | 117 | 21 | 164 | 20 | 44 | 38 | 49 | 61 | 99 | 90 | 62 | 58 | 91 | 126 | 179 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 390 | 676 | 788 | 4 | 676 | 788 | 395 | 676 | 300 | 390 | 174 | 395 | 798 | 676 | 787 | 175 | 174 | 174 | 175 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










