Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Issued: 1 pm 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
27.7° C

Normal for this time of year

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 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSW swell with 268 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Most Powerful11PM (Fri 10th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 7s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s just get this out of the way – this forecast is a tough one for Pelican Watch. We’re looking at a solid two weeks where the surf just won’t show up in any decent way. There’s a real dry spell kicking off the run. The first few days (Saturday July 4th right through to Monday July 13th) are almost all labelled “poor surf conditions.” The swell is tiny – often around 1ft to 3ft – and the wind is mostly cross or cross-off, which never cleans things up properly for a wave that small. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while staring at it.

There’s a glimmer – and I mean a glimmer – on Tuesday morning July 14th. That’s the only stand-out window we get. The swell picks up to 5ft from the east (E) with a short period of 6 seconds, but the wave energy is moderate at that point, reading 205. The wind is light from the southwest, so it’s clean. The report actually says “expect good surf conditions.” That is the one and only call of the entire outlook that sounds positive. Because it’s exposed and the swell direction (E) is a mismatch for the optimum SE, the waves might be a bit jumbly, but for a beginner–friendly spot that’s fairly consistent, this is your best shot across the whole 16 days. This swell is not too big – 5ft – so it’s right on the edge of being okay for less experienced surfers, but still manageable. The short period means it won’t have much push.

After that, we’re back to tiny dribble and poor conditions right through to July 19th. On Saturday July 18th morning the swell jumps to 5ft from the SW, with moderate energy (253), but the file only calls it “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” So even then, don’t get too excited.

Honestly, this whole run is a bust for paddle surfing. With the combination of small swell, cross-chop, and no real clean windows outside that Tuesday morning, this setup might honestly look better for kite surfing on some of those breezy afternoons. It’s a long, blank spell after the 14th – nearly a week of nothing worth paddling out for.

If you get a chance, pencil in Tuesday July 14th morning at Pelican Watch and cross your fingers. That’s the one.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sat
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
1
S
5
1.1
S
6
0.4
SE
10
1
S
6
0.4
SE
9
1.3
SSW
6
0.9
S
7
0.9
SSW
6
1.1
S
7
0.9
S
7
0.4
SE
9
1.6
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
7
1.6
SSW
6
1.7
SSW
7
1.5
SSW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
30
28
26
17
17
57
77
23
81
22
117
69
66
107
72
20
195
161
182
261
181
Wind (km/h)
20
S
15
SSW
15
S
25
S
15
SSW
20
SW
25
SSW
25
SW
20
SW
30
SSW
25
SW
20
WSW
20
SW
25
SW
20
SW
30
SW
25
SW
25
SW
35
SSW
30
SW
25
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
11:30PM1.37m
12:03PM1.14m
00:11AM1.30m
12:52PM1.21m
00:57AM1.22m
1:45PM1.30m
1:49AM1.15m
2:43PM1.41m
2:48AM1.09m
3:44PM1.51m
3:50AM1.06m
4:45PM1.62m
4:55AM1.06m
Low Tide
5:01PM0.13m
5:50AM0.06m
5:50PM0.16m
6:28AM0.05m
6:46PM0.18m
7:09AM0.02m
7:48PM0.19m
7:56AM-0.00m
8:56PM0.18m
8:49AM-0.04m
10:06PM0.14m
9:46AM-0.08m
11:12PM0.09m
10:47AM-0.13m
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:25
8:25
8:25
8:25
8:24
8:24
8:24
8:24
 mm
3
2
10
1
3
Temp °C
30
27
29
30
28
30
31
28
31
31
28
30
32
30
31
32
29
31
32
29
32
Feels °C
32
29
31
31
30
30
31
28
31
30
28
30
32
30
31
31
29
31
31
29
32
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.9
S
7
0.5
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
1.1
S
7
Energy kJ
30
28
26
17
17
15
16
23
23
22
21
69
40
32
20
20
22
8
9
9
104
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SE
6
0.1
E
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
6
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.2
ESE
9
Energy kJ
1
2
27
10
2
2
2
8
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
10
Energy kJ
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
3
0.4
SSW
3
0.3
SSW
4
0.4
SSW
3
0.7
S
4
1
S
5
1.1
S
6
1.1
S
6
1
S
6
1.3
SSW
5
1.3
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
1.1
S
7
0.9
S
7
1.5
SSW
6
1.6
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
7
1.6
SSW
6
1.7
SSW
7
1.5
SSW
7
Energy kJ
1
3
2
3
15
57
77
77
81
102
117
66
107
72
135
195
161
182
261
181
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
2540
527
1709
2540
456
1763
2144
298
304
489
22
54
294
119
19
767
355
304
567
352
294
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
6
6
5
5
4
6
5
5
  • 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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