
Surf Forecasts:
Dondra surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, S swell with 1,667 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Dondra. The next 16 days have a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real pulse of energy coming through if you’re patient. The first few days are pretty flat and tough, with cross-offshore winds but not enough push. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The real tease starts around Monday, 20 July, with a long-period S swell building from the deep south, but the conditions are still only marginal. The first real standout action doesn’t hit until the 27th of July into the 30th. That’s where it’s at.
The first few days, from the 18th to the 23rd July, are a write-off. The swell is tiny, between 3 ft and 4 ft, and even with the wind cross-off from the W, the wave quality is poor. Combined energy is weak to moderate (419 to 291). Not worth getting wet.
By the 20th and 21st, the swell bumps up to 4 ft – 6 ft from the S, with periods around 15 to 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong (1651 to 1935). But the wind is still cross-off, and the forecast calls it “marginal.” It’s a tease.
The real bright spot is from Monday, 27 July, right through to the end of the month. On the 27th, we’ve got a 3 ft – 3 ft SSW swell, but the period is a super-long 19 to 20 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and combined energy is strong (1074 to 1085). The wind stays cross-off from the W, keeping the surface clean. The reef at Dondra is made for this – it’ll line up perfectly.
The absolute standout is Thursday, 30 July. The morning sees a 5 ft SSW swell at 19 seconds, and by the afternoon it’s 6 ft at 18 seconds. The combined energy is massive (2014 to 2688). That’s a solid, powerful swell. The wind is cross-off and clean. It’s going to be a proper session, but heads up – at 6 ft, this is intermediate-to-advanced territory. Beginners will struggle. The period is long, so it’ll be a classic reef break with long, clean walls. Crowds are “sometimes” – not too bad.
The 31st July keeps it going with a 7 ft – 7 ft SSW swell, still strong energy (2580). That’s solid, powerful stuff. After that, into the first of August, the swell drops back a little but stays respectable at 4 ft – 6 ft. The entire run from the 27th to the 2nd August is the window. The wind is consistent cross-off, and the wave quality is the best of the whole forecast.
So, to wrap it up: don’t bother before the 27th. From the 27th July through to the 2nd August, Dondra is the spot. If you only get one session, aim for the 30th July. That’s the one. It’s a reef break, so the long-period swell will work perfectly. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 15 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
328 | 277 | 277 | 242 | 285 | 582 | 881 | 1564 | 858 | 1087 | 951 | 465 | 498 | 345 | 285 | 186 | 148 | 218 | 217 | 193 | 229 | |
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-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:39PM0.49m | 5:28AM0.48m | 5:07PM0.46m | 6:01AM0.46m | 5:35PM0.41m | 6:36AM0.43m | 6:04PM0.37m | 7:16AM0.40m | 6:36PM0.32m | 8:19AM0.37m | 7:42PM0.27m | 10:33AM0.36m | 00:35AM0.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:46AM0.12m | 11:02PM0.02m | 11:21AM0.15m | 11:30PM0.05m | 11:56AM0.18m | 11:58PM0.09m | 12:35PM0.21m | 00:25AM0.13m | 1:30PM0.24m | 00:55AM0.18m | 3:41PM0.26m | 1:50AM0.23m | 6:49PM0.22m | 5:10AM0.24m | |||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
328 | 277 | 277 | 242 | 285 | 582 | 881 | 1564 | 858 | 1087 | 951 | 465 | 498 | 345 | 285 | 186 | 148 | 218 | 184 | 193 | 226 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | W 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 19 | S 8 | W 10 | S 12 | W 9 | W 9 | S 8 | SE 8 | S 8 | W 10 | S 10 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 |
57 | 57 | 65 | 34 | 34 | 369 | 132 | 122 | 333 | 85 | 81 | 69 | 17 | 45 | 70 | 88 | 60 | 164 | 217 | 167 | 229 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 8 | WNW 11 | S 21 | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SE 8 | W 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SW 18 | SE 8 | SE 8 | W 9 | SSW 12 | W 9 | SE 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 10 |
13 | 13 | 52 | 24 | 80 | 20 | 238 | 18 | 122 | 17 | 16 | 23 | 12 | 20 | 21 | 63 | 77 | 54 | 33 | 58 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 4 |
103 | 101 | 72 | 114 | 141 | 268 | 260 | 71 | 56 | 46 | 39 | 126 | 120 | 119 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 15 | 116 | 133 | 40 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 171 | 174 | 175 | 175 | 395 | 175 | 175 | 895 | 16 | 174 | 787 | 0 | 788 | 41 | 0 | 678 | 788 | 0 | 746 | 788 | 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.










