Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Dondra.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag ahead, with a long stretch of marginal surf. The swell is inconsistent and the conditions are often tricky, so you’ll need to be patient. The main event looks like it arrives in the second week.

We start off with a bit of a wait, but the first real pulse of interest shows up on Monday the 3rd of August. The afternoon sees a 7ft swell from the west, with an 11-second period. The combined energy is a solid 1637 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is a cross-off from the west at 16 mph, which keeps the surface clean. The water is sitting at 83°, which is about average for this time of year. Dondra is a reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a constant stream of waves. The crowds are sometimes a factor. The recommended swell direction is from the southwest, and this westerly swell is a little off that, so it’s not the best alignment.

The surf stays in the 5ft to 6ft range through the rest of the first week, with periods hitting 15 seconds and longer. The energy stays moderate, with the combined energy figures sitting between 1424 and 2024. The wind remains a consistent cross-off from the west or west-northwest, keeping things clean. However, the forecast is littered with notes of risk of thunderstorms, especially from the 5th through the 9th. The swell direction shifts to the south and south-southwest, which is a much better match for the optimum southwest direction. The waves are there, but the quality is described as marginal, and the scores are low. It’s a tough one to call.

A real standout arrives on Tuesday the 18th of August. We get a solid 8ft swell from the south-southwest, with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 5110, which is strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is a clean 16 mph cross-off from the west. For Dondra, a reef break, this is a prime setup. The long period will offer some real power, but it might make the wave a bit too lined up for a beach break. Still, at Dondra, this is the best on offer. Because the swell is over 8ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers. The morning of the 18th is also solid, with a 7ft swell from the south, with an 18-second period and a combined energy of 3744.

The second week sees a definite drop in energy. The combined energy figures fall to between 344 and 1623. Swell heights drop to between 2ft and 4ft, with long periods still present. The wind stays cross-off, but the surf becomes much smaller and less consistent. The 15th and 16th of August look particularly weak, with very little to work with.

So, the call is clear: the moment to get excited about is the 18th of August. That south-southwest groundswell with the long period and clean wind will be the best of the window. The earlier part of the period has waves, but the quality is marginal and the conditions are a bit messy. Be patient, and aim for that final Tuesday.

Rusty.

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