Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a long stretch of so-so conditions at Dondra. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent, so when it’s not working, it’s a real waiting game. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first week is honestly a bit of a grind. Starting Sunday morning, August 9th, we’ve got a 5ft swell from the south with a period of 11 seconds, but the wind is a cross-shore from the WSW at 16 mph, kicking up a bit of chop. The combined energy is moderate (1402), but the surf is marginal. Through the week, the swell stays small, mostly between 3ft and 5ft, with those south and south-southeast swells. The afternoons do clean up a bit with a cross-offshore wind from the west around 12 mph, which is nice, but the size just isn’t there to get the heart pumping. Tuesday the 11th afternoon sees a 4ft south swell with a very long period of 18 seconds, but it’s just too small to make the most of that groundswell energy. For a reef break, that long period would be a dream if the size was there.

There’s a real gap in quality here. Nothing really stands out until we get into the second week. The wind stays mostly cross-offshore from the west, which is a good sign, but the swell just doesn’t have the juice.

Now, hold onto your board, because things start to get interesting around Monday the 17th. The afternoon brings a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the period jumps to 21 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is moderate (1350), but it’s a promising sign.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, hits on Tuesday the 18th. We’ve got a solid 7ft to 8ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 18-19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy is strong (3842). The wind is clean cross-offshore from the west at 16 mph. This is expert territory at over 8ft on the 21st, but for the 18th and 19th, it’s a big, powerful, clean swell. Being a reef break, this long-period SSW groundswell is going to line up beautifully. The 19th holds similar size and energy, with the 20th still seeing 7ft to 7ft. The 21st Friday morning bumps up to 8ft, and the afternoon hits 8ft from the south with a 17-second period and strong energy (3805). That Friday afternoon is the absolute peak – big, clean, and powerful. After that, it slowly drops back down through the 22nd and 23rd.

So, the best of the lot is the stretch from the 18th through the 21st. The 18th and 19th are your best bets for a solid, powerful, clean swell. The 21st afternoon is the biggest, but it’s for experts only. Crowds are a possibility at Dondra, so get out there early.

That’s the long and short of it. The first week is a write-off, but that second week fires up proper. Stay stoked.

Rusty

Read more