Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 2,517 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period with SSW 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 13) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s. 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 2.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on Dondra.
Honestly, looking at the next 16 days, this is a tough stretch for a spot that already doesn't break all that often. Plenty of mornings with messy side winds and regular afternoon thunderstorm threats mean the conditions are fighting against the swell most of the time. The combined wave energy gets up there – into the moderate-to-strong range – but energy alone doesn't put you in a barrel.
Water temp is sitting around 84°F, about 2°F warmer than usual – a nice touch for a tropical surf session.
Let's break it down. Wednesday the 9th is a complete no-go with 0.7m (2ft) of junky swell and side breeze. Thursday the 10th shows some promise – the swell builds to 1.4m to 1.5m (5ft to 5ft) from the SSW with a super long 17 to 18 second period. The afternoons clean up into a cross-offshore flow, but mornings are messy. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th keep the size but the quality is poor.
The standout session is Sunday morning, September 13th. We’ve got a solid 1.7m (6ft) SSW swell running on a 16-second interval, the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore breeze, and the combined energy is a strong 1536. The conditions are rated excellent for experienced surfers. Dondra is a reef, so that long-period groundswell will line up beautifully. There will be some waiting between sets, but the waves that come through will be proper. Crowds can show up sometimes, but it's not a zoo.
After that, the second week is a mixed bag. Monday the 14th drops to 1.2m (4ft) with cross winds. Tuesday the 15th spikes to 2.5m to 3m (8ft to 10ft) but it's a short-period WSW windswell – messy and only for experts. Thursday the 17th afternoon is another decent chance with 1.4m (5ft) SSW groundswell and a light 9 mph offshore breeze. The weekend of the 21st has size (1.8m to 2.4m / 6ft to 8ft) but the period fades, and the wind stays moderate. The very end on the 24th brings 1.0m (3ft) of 19-second groundswell – a long wait for small waves.
So, the call is simple: if you can get out Sunday morning, September 13th, that's your best shot at a clean, powerful session. After that, Thursday afternoon the 17th is the only other real look. The rest of the window is mostly a battle with the wind and the inconsistent nature of the break.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 214 | 261 | 283 | 1165 | 1284 | 1150 | 996 | 845 | 1719 | 2404 | 2488 | 2072 | 1415 | 1125 | 857 | 919 | 837 | 1434 | 1229 | 1479 | 1133 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:04PM0.47m | 4:24AM0.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:13AM0.06m | 10:05PM0.04m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 6 | — | 2 | 8 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 146 | 206 | 232 | 1165 | 1284 | 1150 | 996 | 845 | 1273 | 2404 | 2488 | 2072 | 1415 | 1125 | 857 | 919 | 837 | 1434 | 1028 | 899 | 778 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SW 13 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SW 21 | SE 9 | SSW 19 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 6 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SSW 20 |
| kJ | 110 | 99 | 183 | 168 | 162 | 118 | 898 | 112 | 1719 | 106 | 103 | 101 | 99 | 75 | 111 | 460 | 561 | 31 | 16 | 12 | 253 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | ESE 9 | SSE 14 | SW 24 | SSE 9 | SSW 21 | S 9 | — | — | — | W 6 | SSW 20 | S 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | SW 22 | SSW 21 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 214 | 261 | 283 | 53 | 39 | 273 | 99 | 573 | 217 | — | — | — | 22 | 77 | 246 | 78 | 44 | — | 18 | 45 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 |
| kJ | 48 | 53 | 50 | 39 | 22 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 44 | 87 | 69 | 45 | 128 | 140 | 173 | 186 | 276 | 1229 | 1479 | 1133 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 174 | 788 | 175 | 676 | 895 | 920 | 176 | 895 | 175 | 676 | 895 | 175 | 0 | 788 | 4 | 175 | 920 | 174 | 175 | 895 | 125 |
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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