Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 293 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 7s. 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 Sunday (Jul 19) 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 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window for Pelican Watch is a bit of a tough watch. The forecast is mostly a flat spell with barely a ripple to get excited about. There's a big gap of nothing from now until the 19th of July, so don't bother waxing up for the first week.
We start off the 19th of July, Sunday morning, with a bump of energy. The swell jumps to 5ft coming from the south, with a period of 7 seconds. That's a short-period, wind-driven swell, and combined wave energy is moderate (361). At 5ft, it's getting into the zone where beginners might start to struggle. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 12 mph, which will keep the surface clean. The water temp is a warm 83°, which is about average for this time of year. The crowd can get busy here at Pelican Watch, so be prepared for a few blokes out. It's really the only pulse that looks half-decent, but the quality is still marginal.
After that, the swell drops back down and the wind stays strong, sticking mostly cross-off but with a fresh breeze. The period drops to 6 seconds, and the energy levels fall off quickly. By the 21st of July, Tuesday morning, we get another small bump of 4ft from the south with a 7-second period and moderate energy (279), but the onshore wind picks up again, making it messy. The rest of the outlook is a string of small, weak, and often choppy conditions. The wave energy barely cracks double digits, and the wind is often cross-onshore or onshore, creating poor surf. The 26th of July, Sunday morning, is surfable but very ordinary, with a clean 2ft from the ESE and a 5-second period, but it's hardly a session to write home about.
The best bet is that Sunday morning on the 19th of July. It's not a standout by any means, but it's the only real window of clean, bigger swell. The rest of the month is a flat, windy mess. Don't get your hopes up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 78 | 50 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 228 | 218 | 154 | 140 | 75 | 116 | 161 | 154 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | 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 |
High Tide | 8:33PM1.85m | 8:52AM1.28m | 9:25PM1.80m | 9:47AM1.33m | 10:15PM1.71m | 10:41AM1.36m | 11:04PM1.59m | 11:36AM1.37m | 11:52PM1.44m | 12:31PM1.36m | 00:41AM1.29m | 1:26PM1.35m | 1:32AM1.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:56AM-0.12m | 2:43PM-0.22m | 3:45AM-0.14m | 3:39PM-0.17m | 4:32AM-0.13m | 4:35PM-0.10m | 5:19AM-0.10m | 5:31PM-0.00m | 6:05AM-0.06m | 6:30PM0.10m | 6:50AM-0.00m | 7:31PM0.18m | 7:37AM0.06m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 |
 | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | 8:20 |
mm | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 32 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | — | S 7 | — | — | SSE 7 | — | — | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 21 | 33 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 3 | — | 143 | — | — | 75 | — | — | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | — | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 |
| kJ | 78 | 50 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 94 | 228 | 218 | 154 | 140 | — | 116 | 161 | 154 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 602 | 110 | 73 | 140 | 892 | 1707 | 729 | 1213 | 1580 | 2037 | 1707 | 540 | 352 | 321 | 142 | 299 | 54 | 294 | 351 | 562 | 304 |
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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