Dondra Surf Break

Lat Long: 5.92° N 80.60° E

Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Dondra sea temperature is
28.9°C
1.0° 

Dondra surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Dondra surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 2,517 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 2.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (+0530) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 12th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right from the get-go, the Dondra reef is looking a bit moody and mushy for the next few days. It’s an inconsistent spot at the best of times, so we’re not seeing a solid, pushy swell just yet. The water is sitting at 84° Fahrenheit, which is a touch warmer than the usual for this time of year, so it’ll feel nice on the skin even if the waves aren’t firing. The energy in the water is moderate at best right now, with a combined energy of 794, and it’s coming in from the SSW.

For Tuesday morning, it’s a cross-shore breeze with a cross-chop, and we’re looking at 3 feet of swell. It’s not terrible, but the wind is messing with the face a bit. The afternoon cleans up a touch better with a cross-off breeze, and 2.6 feet at 16 seconds, which is a nice long-period groundswell, but it’s still small. The energy reading is 569, so it’s weak. This is a spot that needs a bit more push to really get going, so I’d skip the paddle on Tuesday unless you’re happy hunting the odd clean one.

Wednesday is more of the same, if anything a little worse. Morning is poor with 2.3 feet and a cross-chop making things messy. The afternoon bumps up slightly to 2.6 feet with a cross-off breeze, but it’s a struggle. This is not the window to get excited about.

Now, here’s where things start to breathe. Thursday morning sees a pulse of new energy with 4.6 feet from the SSW, and the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy reading is 1638, so it’s starting to feel more alive. The wind is still cross-shore, but the afternoon turns on. It’s 4.9 feet, cross-off, and clean with an energy of 1476. That’s the first real sign of a surfable day. The long period makes it a bit more lined up on the reef, which is where you want to be.

Friday is building. Morning is 4.9 feet with a clean cross-off, and the energy is up to 1973. That’s a solid, moderate push. The afternoon drops back a touch to 4.6 feet and the wind turns more cross-shore, so the earlier session is the one. Things are starting to look like a proper surf trip.

Saturday is the standout of the first week. Morning swell is 6.6 feet, and the afternoon pushes to 6.9 feet from the SSW with a cross-off breeze and a 17-second period. The energy is cranking at 2574, which is strong. The wave direction is matching the optimum for the reef, so it should be holding its shape. This is getting big enough that it’s starting to be a handful for the less experienced, but for the average surfer, Dondra is going to be firing. The wind stays cross-off for most of the day, keeping the face clean. This is the one to plan around.

Sunday holds in well. Morning is 5.6 feet, and the afternoon is 5.2 feet, both with a clean cross-off breeze. The energy eases off a bit to 1554, but it’s still a solid, fun size. It’s still good, but Saturday had that extra bit of size and grunt.

Next week starts to fade a little. Monday is back to 3.9 feet, and even though the period is a long 17 seconds, the energy is still moderate at 1803. It’s surfable, but the juice is dropping. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, just smaller.

Tuesday the 15th throws a curveball. The morning swell reads 8.2 feet, but the period is a short, bumpy 9 seconds. That’s a windswell, not a groundswell. Even with the size, that short period is going to make it a bit of a mess on the reef, and with a fresh breeze at 30 km/h, it’s not going to be pretty. The afternoon drops back down to 4.9 feet and a cleaner 14-second period, so you’d want to wait for that. That 8.2 feet of morning is too big and sloppy for the average punter, and even for the experts it’s not going to be classic Dondra.

For the rest of that week, we see a return to the 4.6-5.2 feet range, and the wind is consistently cross-off. By the 18th, the swell fades to 3 feet but with a very long 18-second period. It’ll be clean but lacking power.

Into the third week, the 20th afternoon shows a bit of a spike back to 6.9 feet with a 14-second period and an energy of 2193. That’s a decent pick-up. The 21st and 22nd are still in the 3.9-5.2 feet range with the same clean conditions, but by the 23rd, we’re winding down to 3-3.3 feet from the S. The energy

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
0
2
2
2
3
3
2
1
4
1
3
3
2
3
3
1
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
0.7
SW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
19
1.4
SSW
18
1.5
SSW
17
1.5
SSW
16
1.5
SSW
15
1.4
SSW
14
1.5
SSW
19
2
SSW
17
2.1
SSW
17
1.9
SSW
17
1.7
SSW
16
1.6
SSW
15
1.4
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
17
1.2
SSW
17
3
SW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
412
298
275
214
261
283
1165
1299
1150
996
845
1719
2404
2488
2097
1341
1125
857
877
837
1660
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
W
25
WSW
20
W
20
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
WSW
25
WSW
20
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
W
25
W
25
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:10PM0.45m
1:46AM0.45m
1:39PM0.49m
2:09AM0.51m
2:05PM0.52m
2:34AM0.55m
2:31PM0.53m
2:58AM0.58m
2:56PM0.53m
3:21AM0.59m
3:20PM0.52m
3:43AM0.58m
3:43PM0.50m
4:04AM0.56m
Low Tide
7:33PM0.08m
7:39AM0.12m
7:55PM0.03m
8:08AM0.08m
8:18PM-0.00m
8:36AM0.05m
8:40PM-0.02m
9:02AM0.03m
9:03PM-0.03m
9:27AM0.03m
9:25PM-0.02m
9:50AM0.04m
9:46PM0.01m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:10
6:09
6:09
6:08
6:08
6:07
6:07
 mm
1
3
6
4
5
4
1
2
1
3
2
2
6
1
2
5
3
4
3
Temp °C
29
29
27
29
28
26
29
29
27
28
28
27
28
29
27
28
28
27
28
28
26
Feels °C
30
29
29
30
28
27
30
29
28
28
27
28
29
29
28
28
28
29
28
28
27
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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