Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, S swell with 452 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Honestly, the next 16 days are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions with only a few windows of surfable waves at Pelican Watch. The first real highlight won’t show up until Thursday, 13th August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about.
The pattern starts with a stormy, windy vibe. Sunday, 2nd August, has a risk of thunderstorms, cross-off winds around 15 to 18 mph, and a messy 5ft to 6ft swell from the SSE to S with a short period of 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at best (155 to 331), but the surf quality is poor. That carries on through Monday and Tuesday with similar conditions – marginal, not worth paddling out for.
Wednesday, 5th August, afternoon sees a slight improvement: a 3ft SSE swell with a period of 6 seconds, light cross-off breeze at 6 mph, and the surf is just about surfable, but very ordinary. Thursday and Friday mornings are similar – small, clean, but nothing exciting.
Then we hit a real quiet spell. From Saturday, 8th August, through to Tuesday, 11th August, it’s mostly poor surf with small, weak swells and onshore or cross-shore winds. The energy drops right off – we’re looking at combined energy values in the 20s and 30s. That’s weak.
The standout, if you can call it that, comes on Thursday, 13th August. Thursday morning brings a glassy 3ft swell from the east with a short period of 5 seconds. The wind is light and glassy, which is a big positive – it’ll be clean. The combined energy is 77, still weak, but for this region, that’s the best we’ve got. Thursday afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze. The swell is small and short-period, so it’s not going to offer much power, but if you’re desperate for a session, this is the window.
Friday, 14th August, morning is also clean with a 3ft ESE swell, but again, it’s tiny. After that, it’s back to poor conditions right through to the end of the forecast period on Monday, 17th August.
Water temperature is sitting at 83°F, which is about average for this time of year – no surprises there.
So, to be straight with you: if you’re looking for a standout, Thursday morning, 13th August, is your best bet. It’s small, clean, and glassy, but don’t expect much push. The rest of the window is pretty much a write-off for proper surfing. Keep an eye on the charts, though – it can’t stay this flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 70mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 155 | 331 | 419 | 236 | 263 | 139 | 37 | 40 | 63 | 62 | 65 | 50 | 26 | 30 | 45 | 47 | 51 | 109 | 112 | 77 | 79 |
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 | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 4:30PM1.64m | 4:42AM1.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:27AM-0.02m | 10:59PM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | |  |  | | |  |  | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — |
mm | 5 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | SE 6 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 37 | 40 | — | 62 | — | 30 | 26 | 30 | 2 | 47 | 51 | 109 | 112 | 77 | 79 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSE 6 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 6 | — | S 3 | — | — | S 2 | — |
| kJ | 155 | 331 | 419 | 236 | 263 | 139 | 92 | — | 63 | 2 | 65 | 50 | 25 | 16 | 45 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 723 | 723 | 575 | 532 | 519 | 351 | 298 | 363 | 519 | 304 | 0 | 352 | 0 | 973 | 793 | 0 | 956 | 536 | 16 | 578 | 73 |
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.
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