Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, S swell with 220 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat about what’s coming up at Pelican Watch for the next couple of weeks. Right off the bat, it’s a quiet patch. There’s a long dry spell at the start, and the surf that finally shows is mostly nothing to write home about. The water temp is around 83°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year—nothing unusual.
First real chance of a wave comes on Monday, 3rd August. The early session has a short-period S swell running 4ft, with a period of just 7 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at (263). Wind is cross-off from the SW, keeping the surface clean. But that short period means the waves will be lumpy and weak—not much grunt behind them. Small enough for the average surfer.
After that, it’s back to knee-high nothing for the rest of that week and into the next. For instance, Tuesday the 4th has a 2ft SE swell, with a light offshore breeze in the morning, but the energy is weak (27). Clean, but barely worth paddling for. This pattern of tiny, weak swell with mixed winds drags on right through to the 11th.
Then, on Wednesday morning, 12th August, we get a bit of a late sniff. A 4ft groundswell from the ENE with a period of only 5 seconds—so it’s a bit messy—but the wind goes glassy. The energy is still weak though (78). It’s surfable but very ordinary. A small window for a slow, clean session.
Honestly, there’s no real standout. The pick of the bunch is Monday the 3rd for a bit of size, but with that short period and moderate energy, it’s a tough call. Mostly it’s a quiet run for the area, and this sort of stretch isn’t out of the ordinary.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 24 | 26 | 16 | 34 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 32 | 40 | 23 | 82 | 220 | 150 | 123 | 26 |
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 | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 11:33AM1.34m | 11:43PM1.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:10AM0.03m | 5:32PM0.13m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 34 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | E 4 | — | SSE 7 | — | SE 7 |
| kJ | 24 | 26 | 16 | 34 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 30 | 8 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 1 | — | 113 | — | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SSW 6 | SE 7 | E 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 8 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 1 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | — | SE 10 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | ESE 9 | — | E 7 | ESE 9 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 8 | — | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 6 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 17 | 102 | — | 47 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 32 | 40 | 8 | 82 | 220 | 150 | 123 | 54 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1573 | 960 | 54 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 129 | 54 | 82 | 110 | 837 | 282 | 253 | 960 | 532 | 1230 | 559 | 547 | 351 | 321 | 3 |
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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