Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Dondra. This is a reef break that’s exposed to the swell, but it’s inconsistent, meaning it’s picky about when it turns on. Straight up, the next week and a bit is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a long gap with no real shouters, so you’ll be waiting a while for anything worth getting excited about.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

Thursday 16th and Friday 17th are both pretty average. We’re looking at a 3ft to 4ft SW swell with a solid 14-second period, which is a nice groundswell. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze out of the west at 15 mph, which will keep the surface clean. But the energy is only moderate (817 and 537), and the tide or conditions are just off. It’s surfable, but not a standout.

The weekend drops off even more. Saturday 18th is a write-off with 3ft and poor conditions. Sunday 19th sees a bump in size to 4ft to 5ft, but the period drops to 9-10 seconds, and the wind is still cross-off. The energy is still moderate (608 and 782), but it’s a bit of a messy mix.

Monday 20th is where things get interesting, but there’s a catch. The swell jumps to 4ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, coming from the south with a very long 18-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is strong (1499 and 1701). The problem is the wind swings to a cross-shore, creating a cross-chop. For a reef, that long-period swell is a dream, but the chop will ruin the surface. It’s for the experts only, and even then, it’s a battle.

Tuesday 21st is the best of the early week. The swell holds at 5ft to 5ft from the south, with a 14-15 second period. The wind goes back to a cross-offshore breeze in the afternoon, giving us clean waves. The energy is still strong (1284 to 1138). This is the best session of the first week, but with the break being inconsistent, you’ll need to be on it.

After that, it drops off again. Wednesday 22nd through Saturday 25th sees the swell fade to 2ft to 4ft, with periods dropping. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, but the energy is weak to moderate. It’s not really worth the paddle. Sunday 26th is a slight blip with 3ft from the SSW, but it’s still only marginal.

Now, the real standout is in the second week, and it’s a long-range call so keep that in mind. Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th look promising. On the 29th, we’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, clean cross-off winds, and moderate energy (1167 to 1062). It’s small but lined up. Then on Thursday 30th, the afternoon session sees a 4ft SSW swell with a ridiculous 24-second period. The combined energy jumps to 2450 – that’s strong, very strong. The wind is still cross-off. For a reef, that is a dream. The sets will be long and clean, but the wave will be powerful. That is the pick of the entire forecast, but it’s a long way off, so don’t book your flights yet.

Friday 31st continues the theme with a 5ft SSW swell, 20-second period, and energy of 2822. Again, cross-off wind. The size is getting up there, so it’s for the experienced crew.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a grind with only Tuesday 21st afternoon offering a decent, clean window. The best on offer is the Thursday 30th afternoon session with the massive 24-second period, and Wednesday 29th is a solid backup. The inconsistency of Dondra means you have to be patient, but when it does line up, it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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