Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin' at the outlook for Dondra. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent, so when it’s on, it’s a treat, but you gotta be patient. The water temp is sittin' at 28°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

To kick things off, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The first real chance to get wet is Saturday afternoon, the 29th of August. We’re looking at a 4ft SSW swell with a solid 13-second period, so that’s some proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate at 767, and with a cross-offshore wind, it’ll be clean. It’s a tough one to call though, as the conditions are described as marginal.

The real standout is going to be Sunday, the 30th of August. The swell builds through the day, hitting 4ft in the morning and then jumping to 6ft by the afternoon. The period is a massive 19 seconds in the morning, dropping to 18 seconds later. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means energy, power, and long waits between sets. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1561 in the morning and a powerful 2118 in the afternoon. The wind holds cross-offshore, keeping it all clean. This is the best on offer, no doubt.

Then Monday, the 31st, sees the swell peak. We’re talking 8ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon from the SSW, with a period of 17 to 18 seconds. The energy is very strong, over 3000. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 8ft. The wind is still cross-off, so the shape should be there for the experts.

After that, the swell slowly backs off through the first week of September, but it stays rideable with that same cross-off wind pattern. From Tuesday the 1st through to Friday the 4th, we’re looking at waves in the 5ft to 7ft range, always with that clean wind. The combined energy stays in the moderate to strong range.

However, from Saturday the 5th, things get a bit messy. The swell drops, the period shortens, and the wind swings more cross-shore, creating a chop. The energy drops below 1000, and by Sunday the 6th, we’re into poor surf conditions with waves under 3ft. This gap of poor to marginal conditions lasts right through until Wednesday the 9th of September.

There’s a flicker of life on Wednesday afternoon the 9th, with a 3ft SSW swell that has a long 17-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 639. The wind is clean again. Then from Thursday the 10th through to Saturday the 13th, we see a slow rebuild. The swell sits around 3ft to 5ft, with periods of 13 to 16 seconds, and the wind is consistently cross-off. The Sunday the 13th afternoon session has a combined energy of 1518, which is moderate and worth a look if you're desperate for a wave.

So, if you’re keen, the best bet is the Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August. The later stuff in the second week is promising but less certain. Keep your eyes on the charts.

Rusty.

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