
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, W swell with 997 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Dondra over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – the whole 16-day window is a bit of a mixed bag. The models are pushing a steady westerly swell at a solid 5 ft to 6 ft through the first week, but that wind is a steady 16 mph cross-offshore. It’s not totally trashed, but it’s not clean perfection either. Gives it a bit of a bumpy, workable texture. The combined swell energy is moderate, climbing from the 800s up to the 1700s (1706) by Friday the 10th. The period starts short at 7 seconds, so it’s a bit weak and bumpy, but by Sunday the 5th we’re up to 10 seconds, which is a lot more push.
The best bet in this whole stretch? Look at Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th. The swell holds at 6 ft from the west, period stretches to 11 and 12 seconds, and the combined energy peaks at 1712. It’s still a bit of a cross-off breeze, but the wave quality should be there. That longer period will give you proper lines, and the energy figures (1706-1712) tell you it’s got some grunt.
From the 13th onwards, it shifts. The swell drops right down, to 3 ft to 5 ft, and the direction swings around to SSW and even S. The period gets noticeably longer – 15 to 21 seconds – which is proper groundswell. That kind of long period swell at Dondra (reef) can be real good, drawing up along the reef, but at these smaller sizes it’s going to be inconsistent. The combined energy drops back to the 600-1300 range, so it’s weaker. The wind stays cross-offshore though, so if you get a pulse, it’ll be glassy.
The real standout? I’m leaning towards Friday the 10th. The swell is 6 ft from the west, with a 12-second period. That’s good, solid, proper surf. The combined energy is 1712 – that’s the peak of the whole run. Wind is cross-off at 13 mph, which is the lightest you’ll see in that whole first week. That makes it the cleanest option of the whole period. It’s a reef break, so expect a nice, defined take-off when it’s on.
Because the swell is around 6 ft, that’s solid intermediate territory, and with the period going long, it’s not a beginner wave. Dondra can get crowded sometimes, so factor that in. The water temp is about average for July, so nothing weird there.
After that, the second week (from the 13th) is much smaller, with the groundswell running. It’s less consistent, and the energy is lower. It’s a promising long-range signal, but nothing we can call a stand-out for sure. Thursday the 16th has a 5 ft SW groundswell with 16-second period, and a score that could be worth a look if you’re patient.
So, to sum it up: the first week is the time, with Friday the 10th being the pick of the bunch. The second week is for the patient surfer looking for a clean but smaller reef wave.
Stay stoked.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Fri 10 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 16 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
347 | 297 | 274 | 352 | 387 | 522 | 544 | 484 | 474 | 484 | 461 | 603 | 621 | 669 | 774 | 646 | 771 | 792 | 914 | 997 | 997 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:52AM0.44m | 4:42PM0.50m | 5:27AM0.44m | 5:13PM0.47m | 6:05AM0.44m | 5:48PM0.42m | 6:49AM0.44m | 6:27PM0.37m | 7:46AM0.43m | 7:21PM0.32m | 9:05AM0.43m | 9:02PM0.28m | 10:42AM0.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:42PM0.04m | 10:37AM0.13m | 11:10PM0.05m | 11:15AM0.15m | 11:40PM0.07m | 11:58AM0.17m | 00:12AM0.09m | 12:53PM0.20m | 00:49AM0.12m | 2:12PM0.22m | 1:39AM0.15m | 4:15PM0.23m | 3:00AM0.18m | 6:09PM0.19m | |||||||
— | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
347 | 261 | 152 | 143 | 143 | 140 | 143 | 146 | 140 | 135 | 124 | 119 | 279 | 465 | 624 | 497 | 298 | 754 | 669 | 624 | 633 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
128 | 158 | 264 | 115 | 200 | 211 | 173 | 245 | 226 | 220 | 318 | 279 | 330 | 71 | 75 | 125 | 322 | 96 | 73 | 54 | 54 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | — | WNW 12 | S 18 | S 16 | S 17 | SSE 9 | S 15 | SSE 11 | S 17 | SSE 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 13 |
18 | 117 | 144 | 211 | 120 | 84 | 89 | — | 59 | 58 | 46 | 220 | 94 | 205 | 25 | 273 | 113 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 |
278 | 297 | 274 | 352 | 387 | 522 | 544 | 484 | 474 | 484 | 461 | 603 | 621 | 669 | 774 | 646 | 771 | 792 | 914 | 997 | 997 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 175 | 167 | 167 | 175 | 167 | 174 | 175 | 171 | 895 | 175 | 167 | 174 | 174 | 149 | 125 | 125 | 167 | 175 | 175 | 167 | 174 |
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.











