Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Issued: 7 am 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
27.9° 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: Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with 225 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8PM. 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 12th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 6s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 12th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 6s
Most Powerful 8PM (Thu 9th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 6s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Pelican Watch has cooking for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, the start is pretty grim. From Sunday the 5th all the way through the middle of the following week, it’s flat and poor. The swell is almost non-existent, mostly under 3 feet, and when there is a tiny bump, the wind is messing it up or the period is way too short. It’s going to be a real patience tester.

The first hint of anything surfable shows up Wednesday morning the 8th. We get a bump in combined energy up to (200) with a 4ft swell from the SSW. But that 6-second period means it’s gonna be weak and soft. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it glassy on the surface, but the overall quality is marginal. Worth a look, but nothing special. Then on Friday the 10th morning, we see a 5ft SSW swell with energy at (274) – still a short 7-second period holding it back. Clean conditions again, but the wave just lacks power.

Saturday the 11th morning is similar: 4ft SSW, energy at (230), clean cross-off wind. Surfable, but “ordinary” is the best way to put it. Water temp is 82°F, which is bang on average for this time of year – perfect for shorts and a rashie.

The one and only true standout comes way out on Saturday the 18th of July. That morning, we finally get a real pulse: 5ft swell from the S, carrying strong energy (230) with a clean cross-off breeze from the SW. This is the session to circle on your calendar. The waves will have some push, but at 5ft with a 7-second period, it’s not gnarly – still beginner-friendly, though the S direction isn’t the ideal SE. Crowds are listed as "often", so expect a few friendly faces in the lineup.

That little burst fades fast. By Sunday the 19th it’s still 5ft but the wind picks up, and by Monday the 20th we’re back to tiny, weak dribble.

Bottom line: a long quiet spell, a few average mid-month mornings, and one clear winner on the 18th of July. That’s your window.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
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)
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.7
S
5
0.9
S
6
0.4
SE
10
0.9
S
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
1.1
SSW
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
1.6
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
7
0.2
ESE
9
1.5
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
6
0.3
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
26
17
17
24
50
23
63
22
20
98
21
22
26
20
207
171
9
175
149
14
21
Wind (km/h)
15
S
20
S
20
SSW
20
SSW
25
SSW
25
SW
20
SW
25
SSW
25
SW
15
WSW
25
SSW
30
SW
20
SW
35
SW
30
SW
20
SW
30
SW
35
SW
20
WSW
25
SSW
30
SW
Wind State
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
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
5:46PM1.73m
Low Tide
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
00:14AM0.02m
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<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
8:24
8:24
8:24
8:24
 mm
2
2
1
1
Temp °C
29
30
28
31
32
29
32
33
29
32
33
30
31
31
28
31
33
29
32
34
29
Feels °C
31
31
30
32
32
30
33
33
29
33
32
31
31
29
27
32
32
28
32
33
30
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.9
S
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.9
S
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.5
SSE
7
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
1
S
7
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.9
S
7
0.2
ESE
9
0.4
SE
9
Energy kJ
26
17
17
14
16
23
63
22
20
62
21
22
26
20
20
92
9
9
72
9
21
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
4
0.1
SE
6
0.4
SE
10
0.1
E
10
0.5
SE
9
0.1
E
12
0.4
SE
9
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
8
0.2
ESE
9
0.1
E
10
0.2
ESE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
4
1
23
2
38
3
19
2
1
9
2
9
14
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
2
2
2
2
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
4
0.3
S
4
0.6
S
4
0.7
S
5
0.9
S
6
1.2
SSW
5
1.3
SSW
5
1.1
S
6
1.1
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
5
1.5
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
6
1.6
SSW
6
1.6
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
7
1.5
SSW
6
1.5
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
5
1.2
SSW
6
Energy kJ
2
2
11
24
50
75
82
82
98
88
151
46
192
207
171
146
175
149
103
97
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
Distance (km)
575
1002
454
2144
129
54
489
816
304
19
821
263
119
2032
352
19
527
532
54
527
489
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
4
3
3
4
2
3
3
2
1
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
6
7
8
8
6
9
6
4
9
7
7
  • 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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