
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, S swell with 408 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with S 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s 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 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) 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 1.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, and I've got to be straight with you—this outlook is a tough one. The next 16 days at Pelican Watch are a real struggle, with barely a wave worth paddling out for. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell and tricky conditions, so if you're itching for a surf, you'll need to be patient. The water temp is sitting at a normal 83°F for this time of year, so at least it's warm.
The only faint glimmer comes on Sunday afternoon, August 2nd. There's a 6ft swell from the south with a short period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 289. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 22 mph, which keeps the surf clean, but the quality is poor. It's a beginner-friendly break, and it's fairly consistent, but this swell is short and weak, so it's not gonna be a classic. The south swell direction is off from the optimum SE, so it's not hitting the break perfectly. After that, the surf drops off fast.
From Monday, August 3rd, through to Monday, August 17th, the swell stays tiny—mostly between 0.7ft and 3ft—with energy levels that are weak (as low as 9). The period is short, often 6 to 8 seconds, so there's no grunt. Winds are consistently cross-off or cross-shore, but they're mostly from the south or southwest, so it's not ideal. The forecasts are clear: nearly every session is marked as "poor surf conditions," with only a couple of "very ordinary" moments. Given the small size and onshore tendencies, this setup might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, but even then, it's marginal.
There's a 16-day gap here with no real surf to recommend—pretty much the whole period is a write-off. The only break on offer, Pelican Watch, is fairly consistent, but it's just not getting any love from the swell. This is one of those stretches where the ocean's just not playing ball. Hang tight, and check back later. Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
368 | 211 | 255 | 378 | 140 | 37 | 44 | 66 | 77 | 75 | 51 | 27 | 40 | 39 | 55 | 104 | 90 | 88 | 55 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 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 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | E 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 10 | SE 6 | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
— | — | — | — | 89 | 37 | 44 | 66 | — | 3 | 11 | 27 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 104 | 90 | 88 | 55 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | — | E 10 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SE 6 | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | S 3 |
368 | 211 | 255 | 378 | 140 | 69 | 42 | 31 | 77 | 75 | 51 | 25 | 40 | — | 55 | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 519 | 562 | 780 | 352 | 0 | 3 | 364 | 0 | 0 | 559 | 0 | 973 | 793 | 767 | 956 | 578 | 0 | 584 | 0 |
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.











