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 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 2PM.
| 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 folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the forecast. It’s a bit of a slow burner for the Dondra area, but there’s a solid surge of energy building for the deep water crew. The swell direction is mostly SSW, not quite the optimum SW for Dondra (Dondra), but it’ll still work. Water temps are about average for the time of year, nothing wild.
The first few days are pretty marginal. Saturday 15th has some chest-high swell around 6 ft from the WSW, but the period is a short 7 seconds making for a bit of a lumpy, weak wave. The wind is cross-off but at 16 mph, so it’s not glassy. The wave energy is weak (761). Sunday 16th drops off to smaller stuff, around 4 ft, longer period at 11 seconds, but the wind goes cross-shore, putting a bit of a chop on it. No real standouts in this first stretch.
There’s a noticeable gap in quality here, but we start seeing the real promise on Tuesday 18th. That’s when a proper SSW groundswell arrives, pushing 8 ft with a long 19-second period. The wave energy climbs to strong (4401). This is expert territory. It’s powerful, clean under a cross-off wind, and those long-period lines will be running hard into the reef. The sets will be widely spaced, making paddling easier between bombs. This is the standout window. Wednesday 19th holds similar energy at 7 ft (3603), and Thursday 20th stays solid at 8 ft (2610). The winds stay clean and cross-off. This is where you want to be if you’ve got the skill.
The energy drops a bit into the 21st and 22nd, with 5-5 ft swell from the SSW, cleaner conditions, but the energy is moderate (1031). The vibe is still fun, but not the peak.
Looking further out, around Friday 28th, another pulse of strong SSW swell shows up, 7 ft with a 19-second period and energy of (3943). That’s deep into the forecast, so treat it as promising but not locked in quite yet. The wind looks good, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
Overall, the best bet is Tuesday 18th through Thursday 20th at Dondra. Get on it if you’re charging. The reef will be lit.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 11 | WSW 7 | W 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 22 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 297 | 299 | 247 | 292 | 265 | 265 | 214 | 415 | 887 | 1311 | 3961 | 3757 | 3393 | 2296 | 1761 | 3228 | 2610 | 2054 | 1499 |
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 | 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 | 3:54AM0.55m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:37PM-0.03m | 9:53AM0.06m | 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 | ||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — |
mm | 7 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | 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 |
| kJ | 297 | 231 | 157 | 292 | 265 | 265 | 214 | 166 | 887 | 1182 | 3961 | 3757 | 3393 | 2296 | 1761 | 3228 | 2610 | 2054 | 1499 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 12 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 9 | SSE 10 | SSW 21 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 19 | S 18 | S 12 | — | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 196 | 146 | 144 | 102 | 138 | 100 | 87 | 87 | 146 | 1311 | 107 | 80 | 48 | 1037 | 1633 | 221 | — | 74 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | SSE 16 | SSW 15 | — | WNW 11 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SSW 22 | W 9 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | SSE 10 | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 153 | 85 | 146 | — | 24 | 22 | 87 | 415 | 87 | 111 | 38 | 80 | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 176 | 299 | 247 | 239 | 175 | 155 | 121 | 87 | 84 | 137 | 295 | 349 | 249 | 230 | 225 | 80 | 95 | 101 | 94 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 175 | 167 | 41 | 175 | 174 | 895 | 16 | 174 | 895 | 175 | 174 | 788 | 4 | 174 | 791 | 175 | 174 | 895 | 175 |
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.
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