Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Dondra. This reef setup is a bit inconsistent, but when it turns on, it can be a fun little playground. The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year—nothing crazy there.

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty quiet start. Monday 17th August is a bit of a write-off with small, weak swell and a messy cross-shore wind. The energy is low at 1010, so don’t expect much. We’ll see a solid jump on Tuesday 18th August, though. That’s when a SSW swell kicks in at 7ft to 8ft, and the period sits at 19 seconds—that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind turns to a nice cross-off, keeping things clean. The combined energy is strong at 3962 to 4013, so there’s plenty of push. This is the standout window. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so more suited to experienced surfers, and the long period means the sets will be well-spaced, making paddling out a bit easier. Keep an eye on the tide, as the forecast mentions “questionable tide conditions,” but the quality is there.

Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th August keep the goods rolling. Swell holds around 7ft to 8ft from the SSW, periods dropping a bit but still solid (16-17 seconds), and the wind stays clean cross-off. Energy remains strong in the 3000s, so you’ll get plenty of power. Friday 21st sees the swell ease to 5ft-5ft, but the wind holds, and the wave direction swings more southerly. It’s still fun, but the energy is dropping through the week.

We then hit a bit of a lull from Saturday 22nd through to mid-week after that. The swell stays mostly in the 4ft to 6ft range, with moderate energy in the 1000s, and the wind gets a bit more cross than offshore at times. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the highlight of the outlook. The second week, from around 27th August, sees a bit of a mix. Some afternoons clean up with cross-off winds, but mornings are often cross-shore and choppy. The swell is inconsistent, and the energy is moderate.

The real standout is still Tuesday 18th August through Thursday 20th August. After that, things get a bit more average, but you’ll still find some waves if you’re keen. Later in the window, from 29th August into the start of September, there’s a bit of a pulse again with 6ft to 7ft SSW swell and clean cross-off winds, but the energy is a notch lower than that first big push. Worth a look if you’re patient.

Rusty

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