
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, S swell with 397 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pelican Watch this week:
The surf forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s size this up in feet and miles.
Rusty here, and I gotta say, the next two weeks are looking pretty grim. We’re starting off with nothing – Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd are dead flat. The water’s a warm 83°F, which is normal for the season, so no surprises there.
The first hint of anything rideable comes Wednesday afternoon the 5th of August. It’s tiny – 3 ft SSE swell, a short 6-second period, and weak energy (68). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but you’re looking at knee-high slop. Thursday morning the 6th is similar: 2 ft SE swell, still weak energy (50).
Then we hit a big dry spell. From Friday the 7th through Tuesday the 11th, the swell completely bottoms out – 0.6 ft to 1 ft. The conditions are clean at times, but there’s just no wave.
Wednesday the 12th offers a tiny bump – 3 ft SSW swell, 6-second period (83 energy) – still poor. Thursday the 13th morning is the last real chance: 2 ft SE swell, clean with light NW wind, but barely surfable.
The rest of the forecast is flat and choppy. Pelican Watch is the only spot in the picture, a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent break that likes SE swell, but the swell isn’t cooperating. If you’ve got to get wet, Wednesday the 5th afternoon or Thursday the 6th morning are the least bad options. Keep the expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Mon afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 29 | 31 | 119 | 277 | 367 | 287 | 179 | 86 | 76 | 36 | 40 | 52 | 65 | 36 | 46 | 36 | 63 | 44 | 51 | 73 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:10AM1.23m | 10:24PM1.45m | 10:50AM1.29m | 11:02PM1.38m | 11:33AM1.34m | 11:43PM1.30m | 12:22PM1.40m | 00:29AM1.21m | 1:16PM1.46m | 1:22AM1.12m | 2:17PM1.51m | 2:24AM1.07m | 3:23PM1.57m | 3:32AM1.05m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:58PM0.07m | 4:36AM0.03m | 4:43PM0.09m | 5:10AM0.03m | 5:32PM0.13m | 5:48AM0.02m | 6:27PM0.17m | 6:32AM0.02m | 7:30PM0.20m | 7:23AM0.02m | 8:39PM0.21m | 8:22AM0.01m | 9:51PM0.20m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
8 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 51 | 37 | 36 | 40 | 52 | 3 | 23 | 46 | 36 | 34 | 44 | 51 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — |
25 | 29 | 31 | 119 | 277 | 367 | 287 | 179 | 86 | 76 | 45 | 18 | 1 | 65 | 36 | — | — | 63 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 282 | 960 | 1205 | 529 | 576 | 562 | 562 | 364 | 119 | 82 | 88 | 575 | 294 | 0 | 351 | 0 | 973 | 773 | 253 | 578 | 575 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pelican Watch Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pelican Watch provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pelican Watch can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pelican Watch 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 (Pelican Watch) 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 Pelican Watch 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.
Pelican Watch is 26 km (16 miles) from the city of Wilmington. If you plan a vacation in North Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Wilmington. Wilmington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











