Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.7° C
0.7° 

Pelican Watch surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SSW swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with SW 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s is also forecast. 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sat 11th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 12th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Most Powerful11PM (Sat 11th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our stretch of coast. I gotta be straight with you, this forecast is a tough one. For most of the 16-day window, there just isn't much to write home about. We’ve got a long gap with nothing worth paddling out for, and it’ll be a while before we see anything that even gets close to being a good bet.

The only spot on the radar is Pelican Watch, and it’s a pretty bleak picture right through the middle of the month. Starting Saturday the 11th, we get a brief pulse of energy but the conditions are sloppy. Saturday morning shows a combined energy of 149 (moderate) with a 4 ft SW swell, but that's riding a 12 mph WSW wind that’s chopped things up. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. By the afternoon it drops right off, and from there it’s a parade of tiny waves.

From Saturday the 11th right through to Sunday the 19th, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at a solid 8-day stretch of knee-high slop. The swell heights barely break 2 ft, periods are short and weak, and energy readings are mostly in the low teens to 40s. A few mornings go glassy, like Monday the 13th and Wednesday the 15th, but with only 1 ft to 2 ft on offer, you’re not catching anything with any push. It’s a tough run. The wind does turn offshore a couple of times, but with no swell, it doesn’t matter.

Now, there is one glimmer that catches the eye, but it’s a long way off. Monday the 20th shows a bigger pulse, the best of the outlook. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the SSW with a period of 7 seconds and the combined energy jumps to 246 (moderate to strong). The wind swings ENE at 6 mph, which is an onshore direction. The report flags it as marginal, and honestly, 4 ft on a beach break with onshore wind and that short a period will probably be a bit of a messy, crumbly wave. It’s the biggest size we’ll see, but it’s not a standout for quality. For an experienced surfer who’s desperate, it’s something to keep an eye on, but don’t expect clean lines. After that, it’s back to tiny surf and ordinary wind for the rest of the window.

Water temp is sitting at 84°F at Pelican Watch for that first Saturday, which is about 1°F above normal for the time of year. So, it’s your typical warm tropical water, nothing out of the ordinary.

Bottom line: this is a tough forecast. Unless you’re happy to kick around on a foamie in ankle-biters, there’s not much to get excited about until that bump on the 20th, and even then, it’s a “maybe” wave. We’ll see if the models get any friendlier as we get closer.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SW
6
0.4
SE
9
1.3
SW
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.7
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
85
21
132
23
33
32
40
81
29
28
29
21
20
18
17
10
10
6
10
6
6
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
30
SSW
20
WSW
10
NW
15
S
10
SW
0
SSW
10
S
5
NW
5
ENE
5
SE
0
W
0
SSW
15
SSW
15
SW
10
SSE
15
S
15
SSW
15
SSW
20
S
0
N
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
5:46PM1.73m
5:58AM1.09m
6:44PM1.80m
6:59AM1.15m
7:40PM1.85m
7:57AM1.22m
8:33PM1.85m
8:52AM1.28m
9:25PM1.80m
9:47AM1.33m
10:15PM1.71m
10:41AM1.36m
11:04PM1.59m
Low Tide
10:47AM-0.13m
00:14AM0.02m
11:48AM-0.18m
1:11AM-0.04m
12:47PM-0.22m
2:05AM-0.09m
1:46PM-0.24m
2:56AM-0.12m
2:43PM-0.22m
3:45AM-0.14m
3:39PM-0.17m
4:32AM-0.13m
4:35PM-0.10m
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:24
8:23
8:23
8:23
8:22
8:22
8:22
 mm
12
7
1
1
4
1
7
3
Temp °C
31
33
29
28
29
27
27
28
27
27
27
27
29
30
29
31
31
30
31
32
29
Feels °C
30
32
29
30
32
29
31
30
30
31
30
31
34
32
32
33
32
33
33
33
31
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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