Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, SSW swell with 3,961 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, Rusty here. Let’s break down the only spot that’s got any action for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a slow start, nothing to even talk about until the afternoon of Saturday the 15th. That first wave is a weak, short-period 1.7m W swell with a 7-second period – pretty messy. The wind is a moderate 25 km/h cross-off, which helps, but it’s a scratchy beginning. The water is a normal 27°, right on the money for this time of year.
The real show kicks off on Monday the 17th. The forecasts might say “marginal,” but trust me, the numbers tell a different story. A solid, long-period SSW groundswell starts to fill in. Monday afternoon gives us 1.0m of swell with a 22-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid 1455 (moderate), and it’s clean with cross-off winds. That’s the kind of swell that loves a reef or a point.
The absolute standouts are Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. Tuesday morning is a beast: 2.3m of SSW swell with a 19-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 4106 (strong to very strong). The wind is clean cross-off at 25 km/h. That’s a serious session. Wednesday is right there with it at 2.1m and a 17-second period, energy at 3586. That’s a real window of power. But you need to know – 2.3m is expert territory. This is a reef break, and with that long period, it’s going to be a long, fast, powerful wall. The best spot is Dondra itself. The optimum swell direction is SW and this is coming from SSW, so it’s going to be lined up nicely. You might see a few other people out there – crowds are “sometimes” – but it’s not a zoo.
The energy backs off a bit after that, but we get a consistent run of clean, chest-to-head-high SSW swell through the rest of the week and into the next. The 25th and 26th show a nice bump in period again. Then, looking way out, the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August could be another big one. Saturday the 29th afternoon has a 2.2m SSW swell with an 18-second period and energy of 3309, and Sunday the 30th afternoon might be the biggest of the whole run at 2.5m with an 18-second period and energy of 4493. That’s a serious, expert-only wave. It’s a long way out, but the signs are all there.
So, bottom line: the first week is your best bet, with Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th being the absolute pick of the bunch for powerful, clean groundswell. The second week has some promising size, but it’s a long-range forecast. This is a reef break, so it loves a long period, and we’re getting plenty of that. Expect clean conditions from that steady cross-off wind, but be ready for some serious size if you’re paddling out on the 18th, 19th, or that last weekend.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | W 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | W 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
270 | 292 | 265 | 265 | 326 | 415 | 887 | 1311 | 3961 | 3757 | 3393 | 2296 | 1761 | 3228 | 2523 | 2054 | 1499 | 1121 | 938 | 790 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | 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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:47PM0.53m | 4:21AM0.55m | 4:11PM0.51m | 4:46AM0.53m | 4:35PM0.47m | 5:09AM0.50m | 4:57PM0.43m | 5:32AM0.47m | 5:16PM0.39m | 5:55AM0.42m | 5:27PM0.34m | 6:21AM0.38m | 5:00PM0.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:01PM-0.02m | 10:20AM0.08m | 10:24PM-0.00m | 10:47AM0.10m | 10:46PM0.03m | 11:12AM0.13m | 11:06PM0.08m | 11:37AM0.17m | 11:22PM0.13m | 12:04PM0.21m | 11:31PM0.17m | 12:41PM0.26m | 11:06PM0.22m | |||||||
— | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
157 | 292 | 265 | 265 | 240 | 202 | 887 | 1182 | 3961 | 3757 | 3393 | 2296 | 1761 | 3228 | 2523 | 2054 | 1499 | 1121 | 938 | 564 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 22 | SSE 10 | SSW 21 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 19 | S 18 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | S 18 | S 16 |
144 | 45 | 138 | 100 | 87 | 415 | 160 | 1311 | 107 | 80 | 56 | 1026 | 1615 | 20 | 24 | 12 | 37 | 35 | 236 | 790 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 11 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | — | S 21 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | WNW 10 | W 9 |
176 | 102 | 24 | 22 | 87 | 85 | 102 | 140 | 38 | — | 323 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | 76 | 32 | 43 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 10 | WSW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
270 | 161 | 170 | 155 | 326 | 106 | 306 | 300 | 139 | 148 | 282 | 219 | 119 | 110 | 176 | 165 | 140 | 126 | 104 | 80 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 167 | 175 | 676 | 895 | 175 | 174 | 895 | 175 | 167 | 788 | 4 | 174 | 796 | 175 | 174 | 390 | 395 | 746 | 895 | 395 |
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.











