
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,836 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:
The surf forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me tell you about the only show in town for the next couple of weeks. It’s all at Dondra, a reef break that doesn’t fire very often, so when it’s looking half-decent, you gotta pay attention. Straight off the bat, the water temp is sitting at 84°, which is about 1° warmer than average for this time of year, so it’s pretty normal, nothing wild.
Right now and into this weekend, it’s a bit of a wait. The swell is there – around 3ft to 4ft from the S – but it’s getting chopped up by a moderate cross-shore breeze. The wave energy is moderate, at best (381 - 563), but the conditions are just messy. You won’t catch me out there. Monday and Tuesday are similar, with a bit more size on Tuesday (3ft) but still a cross-shore wind and risk of thunderstorms. It’s just not happening yet.
Now, things start to get interesting from about Wednesday the 9th into Thursday the 10th. That cross-shore wind starts turning into a cross-offshore breeze from the W, cleaning things right up. By Thursday the 10th, we’re looking at a solid 4ft to 5ft swell from the SSW with a 17-18 second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps to 1200-1307 (strong wave energy). This reef loves that long period stuff, and with clean conditions, it’s going to get good.
The real standout looks like Saturday the 12th of September. The swell is bumping up to 7ft from the SSW, with a 18-second period. That’s a huge amount of energy – 3191 (very strong). The wind is cross-offshore in the afternoon, making it clean. However, that size is getting into expert territory, over 8ft is for experts only, but at 7ft, it’s still manageable for strong intermediates. Just be aware, it is an inconsistent spot, so you might be waiting for sets, but when they come, they’ll be worth it. Crowds are a possibility here sometimes.
Another one to circle on the calendar is Wednesday the 16th of September. Another 7ft from the SSW with an 18-second period and a massive energy reading of 3233 (very strong). The wind is a cross-offshore in the morning, so it’ll be clean for the early session. Again, that’s not a beginner wave – stick to something smaller if you’re learning.
The very end of the run, Saturday the 19th of September, has the biggest swell of the whole period at 8ft from the SSW, with 14-second period. Combined energy of 2468 (very strong). Morning wind is cross-offshore and it’s cloudy, which is fine. That’s a beast for a reef break, and probably one for the experienced crew only.
So, if you’ve got the skills, the best bets are the afternoon of September 12th and the morning of September 16th. Consistent swell, clean wind, and a proper reef setup. The rest of the time, it’s either onshore trash or just too small to bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 15 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SE 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
257 | 308 | 235 | 196 | 176 | 164 | 231 | 197 | 280 | 412 | 298 | 275 | 214 | 322 | 283 | 1015 | 1148 | 1150 | 1010 | 956 | 1719 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | 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 |
High Tide | 3:53PM0.27m | 11:28AM0.35m | 1:19AM0.31m | 12:36PM0.40m | 1:25AM0.38m | 1:10PM0.45m | 1:46AM0.45m | 1:39PM0.49m | 2:09AM0.51m | 2:05PM0.52m | 2:34AM0.55m | 2:31PM0.53m | 2:58AM0.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:47PM0.27m | 10:31PM0.23m | 7:11PM0.20m | 6:23AM0.23m | 7:15PM0.14m | 7:06AM0.17m | 7:33PM0.08m | 7:39AM0.12m | 7:55PM0.03m | 8:08AM0.08m | 8:18PM-0.00m | 8:36AM0.05m | 8:40PM-0.02m | ||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
257 | 308 | 235 | 196 | 156 | 164 | 231 | 197 | 207 | 260 | 253 | 173 | 133 | 322 | 208 | 1015 | 1148 | 1150 | 1010 | 956 | 1199 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | S 16 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 |
42 | 153 | 133 | 137 | 176 | 124 | 115 | 50 | 280 | 412 | 298 | 275 | 124 | 257 | 183 | 144 | 120 | 64 | 898 | 578 | 1719 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | S 12 | SE 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | W 9 | SE 9 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 10 |
82 | 102 | 198 | 99 | 71 | 24 | 149 | 146 | 60 | 39 | 24 | 84 | 214 | 182 | 283 | 41 | 39 | 68 | 64 | 81 | 64 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 3 | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | W 9 | WSW 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 |
11 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 70 | 55 | 20 | 90 | 99 | 26 | 43 | 48 | 44 | 55 | 80 | 92 | 165 | 165 | 181 | 156 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 788 | 787 | 0 | 41 | 787 | 4 | 676 | 787 | 175 | 746 | 788 | 175 | 175 | 809 | 395 | 175 | 676 | 175 | 676 | 676 | 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.










