Surf Forecasts:
Trincomalee surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, SSE swell with 61 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Trincomalee this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Trincomalee in the next 16 days are 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trincomalee over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get straight into it.
Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for any real surf around Trincomalee. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak swell and not much hope on the horizon. It’s going to be a waiting game, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it.
First off, the water’s sitting at a comfortable 84°, which is about normal for this time of year. So at least you won’t be freezing while you’re staring at the flatness.
Over the next week, from the 15th through the 22nd, we’re looking at nothing but ankle-biters. Swell heights are stuck around 0.7ft to 1ft, with periods mostly around 7 to 8 seconds. That’s short-period, weak energy – the combined energy is barely registering, mostly in the low teens to low 30s. It’s just not doing anything. The wind is mostly cross-offshore from the WSW, which would be nice if there was any waves to groom, but there isn’t. A few days have that glassy feel, especially on the 30th, but again, it’s not translating into surfable waves.
The surf quality is consistently rated poor. It’s just not happening.
Now, around the 25th and 26th, we see a slight nudge. The swell bumps up to 2ft, and the energy climbs into the 40s, 50s, and even 70s. That’s a bit more push, but it’s still under 3ft and the period is still a weak 8 seconds. It’s more of a bump than a wave. It’s still going to be poor, and the wind stays fresh from the WSW, so it’ll be clean but tiny and crumbly. This isn’t the standout you’re hoping for.
The end of the period, around the 29th and 30th, sees the swell trying to pick up slightly, getting to 2ft and 2ft, but the wind turns more onshore and it gets choppy. The 30th morning does have a glassy patch with the swell at 2ft, but it’s still a far cry from anything decent.
The bottom line is, there is no standout period in this whole 16-day window. The break here at Trincomalee is a very sheltered point that rarely breaks anyway, so with this kind of lack of swell, it’s just not going to fire. We’ve got a long gap of tiny, poor surf, and even the best-looking days are marginal at best.
Sometimes you get a run like this – it happens. It’s not going to stay poor forever, and the forecasts are always changing. But for now, leave the board in the car and maybe work on your tan.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri night, light winds from the NE by Sat afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 17 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 61 | 28 | 24 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 16 | 44 | 15 | 20 | 43 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:07PM0.61m | 11:03AM0.52m | 11:50PM0.58m | 11:40AM0.47m | 00:41AM0.56m | 12:25PM0.43m | 1:48AM0.54m | 1:39PM0.40m | 3:12AM0.53m | 3:31PM0.39m | 4:32AM0.54m | 5:00PM0.42m | 5:30AM0.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM0.16m | 5:03AM0.25m | 4:52PM0.19m | 5:43AM0.30m | 5:20PM0.22m | 6:39AM0.34m | 5:57PM0.25m | 8:54AM0.36m | 6:56PM0.29m | 11:12AM0.34m | 8:45PM0.30m | 11:53AM0.31m | 10:27PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 35 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 35 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 61 | 28 | 24 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 16 | 44 | 15 | 20 | 43 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 4 | SE 9 | — | SSE 8 | SE 8 | S 14 | S 16 | S 15 | SSE 4 | W 4 | W 3 | SE 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | S 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 15 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | — | SE 9 | S 17 | — | S 16 | — | — | S 11 | S 7 | S 16 | — | NW 4 | — | S 14 | S 17 | S 16 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | 1 | — | 4 | 6 | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | W 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | ESE 4 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 8 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 2 | — | 13 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 22 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 241 | 194 | 194 | 194 | 881 | 411 | 958 | 194 | 194 | 797 | 194 | 194 | 194 | 194 | 194 | 194 | 797 | 194 | 194 | 410 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Trincomalee Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Trincomalee provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Trincomalee can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Trincomalee 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 (Trincomalee) 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 Trincomalee 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.
Are you planning a holiday in East Sri Lanka? If you are looking for accommodation near Trincomalee, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in East Sri Lanka, consider staying in Trincomalee which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around East Sri Lanka where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Vavuniya which is 86 km (53 miles) away, Eravur Town and Anuradhapura.
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