Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with 258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 1.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 7s. 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 5AM. 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wettie, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
To be straight with you, the next 16 days here at Pelican Watch are lookin’ pretty grim for a proper paddle. The first surfable day we see is Tuesday morning, August 4th, but it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a combination of swell energy coming in at a weak 268 (combined energy), with a short period of 6 seconds and a swell height of 4ft, but the wind is a cross-off from the SSW at 12 mph. That’s not the worst wind, but the risk of thunderstorms and a marginal tide means it’s going to be a frustrating session – more of a grovel than a glide. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The pattern doesn’t get any better. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th offer tiny, weak waves (2ft to 3ft) with short periods, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-off, leaving the surf feeling ordinary. The swell energy drops right off into the single digits and low teens for the rest of the first week and into the second. There’s a big gap of really poor surf from August 9th through to August 15th, with barely any energy (combined energy values as low as 6 to 12) and tiny waves. Even the glassy, calm conditions on the morning of August 13th (wind from W at 0 mph) can’t save it because there’s simply no swell to ride.
The only spot that shows a little life is right at the end of the window. On Wednesday August 19th, we get a pulse of swell from the ENE at 5ft, with a period of 6 seconds, and a combined energy of 262 (moderate energy). The wind is a light cross-shore from the S at 6 mph, which is okay. But the conditions are still flagged as marginal, and the swell is short-period. At 5ft, it’s right on the edge for beginners, but it’s the biggest swell we’ve seen in the whole forecast. If you’re an intermediate or expert, this might be your best chance to get something halfway decent, but it’s a long way off and the short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly and close-out prone at a beach break like this. Honestly, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of this period.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 49mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 173 | 137 | 37 | 91 | 54 | 40 | 65 | 45 | 51 | 44 | 43 | 60 | 109 | 107 | 62 | 37 | 26 | 20 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:48AM0.02m | 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 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 8:10 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — |
mm | 8 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 13 | SE 6 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | — | 93 | 37 | 91 | 54 | 40 | 3 | 45 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 60 | 109 | 107 | 62 | 37 | 26 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | E 12 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 |
| kJ | — | 38 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SW 4 | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 173 | 137 | 46 | 73 | 31 | 30 | 65 | 2 | 51 | 44 | 4 | — | — | — | 10 | 18 | 11 | 22 | 18 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 304 | 304 | 352 | 0 | 1230 | 0 | 294 | 1232 | 567 | 352 | 641 | 0 | 0 | 567 | 352 | 304 | 567 | 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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