
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with 183 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 8AM (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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM. 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, let’s have a look at what’s coming our way. To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a paddle. There’s a long, dry spell of poor surf, and only a couple of moments that might get you out of bed.
We start off on the 27th of July with nothing doing. Tiny swell, weak energy, and cross-onshore breezes making a mess of things. That pretty much carries on for a whole week. The swell is consistent in that it keeps showing up, but it’s always small and usually blown out. The first week is a total blank.
But hang in there, because the morning of Sunday the 2nd of August gives us a tiny little window. Pelican Watch will have clean conditions and a 3ft swell from the SSE, with a cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is still low at (66), but it’s the first “surfable” call we get in a week. It’s not a classic, but it’s something.
The one proper standout, the one you want to keep an eye on, is the morning of Saturday the 8th of August. It’s a long way out, but the charts are hinting at a 5ft swell from the SW. The wind is clean and cross-offshore, and the combined energy hits a solid (199). That’s the biggest and cleanest-looking swell of the whole 16 days. Pelican Watch is a beginner-friendly wave, and this size might be a bit much for the groms, but for anyone with a bit of experience, that Saturday morning is your best bet by a mile.
After that, the second week goes back to small, choppy or messy conditions. There’s a big gap from the afternoon of the 8th right through to the end.
So, bottom line: a whole lot of nothing, then one promising Saturday morning on the 8th of August. That’s your shot.
Tread water,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 15 | 21 | 23 | 57 | 53 | 39 | 14 | 33 | 43 | 12 | 9 | 34 | 25 | 66 | 153 | 147 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:24PM1.49m | 7:34AM1.02m | 8:03PM1.52m | 8:14AM1.08m | 8:39PM1.53m | 8:53AM1.12m | 9:14PM1.52m | 9:31AM1.18m | 9:49PM1.50m | 10:10AM1.23m | 10:24PM1.45m | 10:50AM1.29m | 11:02PM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:49AM0.16m | 1:16PM0.06m | 2:25AM0.12m | 1:57PM0.05m | 2:59AM0.09m | 2:37PM0.04m | 3:32AM0.06m | 3:17PM0.05m | 4:03AM0.05m | 3:58PM0.07m | 4:36AM0.03m | 4:43PM0.09m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | — | — |
19 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 15 | 21 | 23 | 28 | 53 | 39 | 13 | 33 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 66 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSW 5 | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 7 | S 8 | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | E 6 | — | E 6 | ESE 8 | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 12 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 2 | SW 2 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SW 3 | SSW 6 | NNE 2 | — | — | — | S 7 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | — | S 7 | S 7 |
— | 1 | 2 | 24 | 90 | — | 2 | 57 | 1 | — | — | — | 43 | 9 | 13 | 34 | 25 | — | 153 | 147 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 960 | 978 | 858 | 559 | 352 | 23 | 54 | 0 | 22 | 54 | 253 | 243 | 780 | 527 | 892 | 960 | 219 | 0 | 562 | 562 |
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.










