Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 333 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 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 menu for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the outlook is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions with no real standouts worth getting excited about. The first surf that’s even worth mentioning doesn’t show up until Sunday, August 2nd, and even then, it’s a long way off.
The pattern starts with a whole lot of nothing. From Tuesday, July 28th, right through to Saturday, August 1st, the swell is tiny as a mouse, with heights barely above 1 ft. The wind is a mess – cross-on and onshore – making for choppy, bumpy conditions. Tuesday, July 30th afternoon goes glassy, but with only 2 ft of short-period swell from the south, it’s still a lake. Don’t bother paddling out for this.
The first hint of anything with a bit of push comes on Sunday, August 2nd. The afternoon sees a bump up to 4 ft from the SSE, with a period of 7 seconds and a cross-offshore wind. The combined energy jumps to moderate (124), but the guidance still calls it "poor surf conditions." It’s a step up, but it’s not breaking clean.
Now, Monday, August 3rd is the closest thing we have to a highlight, and I’m only saying that because the rest of the fortnight is so flat. The morning brings 5 ft from the south at 7 seconds – that’s just about beginner-friendly, but it’s on the edge of being too much for a grom. The combined energy is solid (220), and the wind is clean cross-off from the SSW. It’s a *marginal* forecast, the best of a bad lot, but still not a sure thing. The afternoon drops back, so if you’re going, you’d want to be out there early at Pelican Watch. Bring a shortboard, not a log.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From Tuesday, August 4th, all the way through to Wednesday, August 12th, the swell drops to a pathetic 1 ft to 2 ft. The wind is mostly cross-on or light glassy, but there’s no power behind it. Combined energy values are all in the teens or low 30s – just weak.
So, the bottom line: take a rain check. The one day that might turn on is Monday, August 3rd, but it’s a long way out and the forecast is only marginal. Otherwise, it’s a long, flat spell. Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. 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 | ESE 8 | S 6 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 24 | 26 | 12 | 46 | 6 | 42 | 20 | 44 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 18 | 22 | 30 | 42 | 42 | 124 | 269 | 220 | 130 | 77 |
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-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | 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 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | SE 7 |
| kJ | 24 | 26 | 12 | 46 | 6 | 17 | 20 | 44 | 22 | 30 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 42 | — | — | — | — | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 8 | SE 7 | E 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 5 | S 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 23 | 18 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | — | SE 9 | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | — | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 8 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | NNE 2 | — | — | — | SE 2 | SE 3 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 17 | 154 | — | 36 | 42 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 22 | 30 | 42 | 10 | 124 | 269 | 220 | 130 | 77 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1573 | 960 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 0 | 23 | 54 | 88 | 243 | 837 | 304 | 837 | 960 | 945 | 576 | 562 | 575 | 294 | 529 | 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.
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