Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, S swell with 387 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 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 0.8m 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 (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, it’s looking like a pretty flat stretch for the foreseeable future. We’ve got a long gap with no real action to speak of. The first solid chance of a wave doesn’t even show up until Thursday, August 6th, and even then, it’s barely a whisper.
The first sniff of something surfable is at Pelican Watch on Thursday morning, August 6th. We’re looking at a weak 2ft swell from the ESE, with a period of 7 seconds. The energy is next to nothing, just 52 (weak). The wind is a light cross-off, which is about the only positive here. Water temp is sitting at 83° which is bang on average for this time of year. It’s surfable, but only just.
That little bump fades fast, and we’re back into a dead zone right through to the end of the second week. There’s a tiny flicker of life on Monday afternoon, August 17th, with a 3ft ESE swell and a 5-second period, energy at 73 (still weak). The wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean, but it’s more of a fizzle than a wave. Tuesday morning, August 18th, is more of the same – 2ft at 8 seconds from the SE, clean with a light cross-off wind, but energy is still stuck at 73.
Honestly, there’s nothing here that gets the heart rate up. For a beginner, the tiny swell on the 6th might be manageable, but it’s hardly worth the trip. For anyone else, it’s a long wait for very little reward. The pattern is just poor, with no standout days. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on the long-range for the 17th and 18th, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 240 | 204 | 290 | 130 | 36 | 123 | 46 | 39 | 27 | 30 | 18 | 43 | 40 | 62 | 93 | 90 | 62 | 45 | 36 | 25 | 18 |
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 | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:33PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:34AM-0.05m | 00:01AM0.09m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — |
mm | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 10 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 15 | 26 | 36 | — | 46 | 39 | 27 | 30 | 18 | 2 | 40 | 62 | 93 | 90 | 62 | 45 | 36 | 25 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | SE 6 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | S 4 | — | E 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 240 | 204 | 290 | 130 | 46 | 123 | 27 | 20 | 27 | 20 | 8 | 43 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 561 | 561 | 296 | 140 | 352 | 351 | 556 | 363 | 641 | 0 | 2162 | 793 | 618 | 769 | 0 | 16 | 140 | 529 | 304 | 578 | 529 |
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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