Dondra Surf Break

Lat Long: 5.92° N 80.60° E

Dondra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Dondra sea temperature is
27.9° C
0.4° 

Dondra surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Dondra surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, S swell with 2,097 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dondra this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Dondra in the next 16 days are 1.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (+0530) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 22nd Aug)6ft (1.9m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dondra over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s see what this stretch has in store.

The overall picture shows a long run of so-so surf, with one big spike in size and energy right at the end of the month. Water temp is about 82°, which is normal for the season.

The first break we’re looking at is Dondra (Sri Lanka). It’s a reef, inconsistent, and rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a special event. Friday afternoon the 21st kicks off with 5ft swell from the S, 14-second period, and a cross-offshore wind from the W at 16 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1310. It’s clean, but the whole thing feels marginal.

Saturday the 22nd is similar. Morning has 6ft S swell (15 seconds) with cross-off winds, energy at 1614. Afternoon holds at 6ft, same direction, 15 seconds, energy at 1533. Both clean. Sunday the 23rd gets a little messy in the morning with 5ft S swell and cross-shore winds that chop it up, but the afternoon cleans up with 5ft and cross-off winds.

From Monday the 24th through the end of the month, it’s a real lull. Swell drops, periods get long, and the energy fades. Tuesday the 25th has 5ft S swell (15 seconds) but morning winds are cross-shore and choppy. Wednesday the 26th is smaller, 4ft SSW swell, 16-second period, energy down to 900. Clean, but nothing to get excited about.

Now, the standout. Monday the 31st of August is the one to mark. Morning brings 7ft SSW swell with a very long 19-second period, and cross-offshore winds from the W at 19 mph. Combined energy is a beast at 3636. The afternoon holds at 8ft, same direction, 19 seconds, energy at 3754. This is proper groundswell, and it’s clean. For a reef like Dondra, that long period will really fire it up. Over 8ft is expert territory, so be aware. This is the best of the whole forecast.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps it going with 7ft SSW swell (17 seconds) in the morning, energy at 3122, still cross-off and clean. The afternoon drops slightly to 7ft. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd see the size back to 6ft, with moderate energy and mostly cross-off winds. By Friday the 4th, it’s fading to 4ft and 3ft with low energy.

Saturday the 5th of September brings a different feel. Swell hits 6ft but from the WSW, with a short 6-second period. That’s windswell, weak, and the energy is only 665. The afternoon is similar at 6ft from the W, same short period. It’s clean, but those are crumbly, weak waves.

Bottom line: the first week is a grind, but the 31st of August and 1st of September are the real deal. Big, long-period groundswell, clean winds, and massive energy. That’s the one to chase. It’s a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
3
3
1
3
3
0
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
3
2
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
S
14
1.2
S
17
1.7
S
15
1.8
S
15
1.6
S
14
1.5
S
14
1.4
S
13
1.3
S
13
0.9
SSW
17
1.2
SSW
16
1.5
S
15
1.6
S
15
1.4
S
14
0.8
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
15
1.8
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
17
1.8
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1063
809
1225
1428
1014
843
683
573
499
778
1037
1108
802
232
715
525
773
1886
1162
1551
Wind (km/h)
25
W
20
W
25
W
20
W
20
W
25
WSW
20
W
20
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
WSW
25
W
20
W
25
W
20
WSW
20
W
25
WSW
20
W
20
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:00PM0.29m
7:24AM0.33m
2:42AM0.29m
12:37PM0.37m
1:47AM0.33m
1:07PM0.42m
1:52AM0.38m
1:32PM0.47m
2:07AM0.42m
1:56PM0.50m
2:26AM0.47m
2:19PM0.53m
2:47AM0.51m
Low Tide
11:06PM0.22m
8:17PM0.22m
6:15AM0.27m
7:39PM0.17m
6:58AM0.22m
7:46PM0.13m
7:25AM0.17m
8:01PM0.08m
7:50AM0.13m
8:19PM0.04m
8:15AM0.09m
8:37PM0.01m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:19
6:17
6:17
6:17
6:16
6:16
6:15
 mm
3
1
2
2
2
6
1
2
4
1
2
7
Temp °C
28
26
29
29
26
28
29
26
29
29
26
28
28
26
28
28
26
28
28
26
Feels °C
28
27
29
28
28
28
29
27
30
29
28
29
28
28
29
29
28
29
28
28
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Dondra:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Dondra surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest