Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, S swell with 130 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period. 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 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour.
Truth is, the next 16 days are a write-off for any decent surf. We’ve got a long, flat stretch with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t roll around until Wednesday morning, 30 July, and even that’s a struggle.
Pelican Watch is the only game in town. It’s a beginner-friendly break, wide open to the ocean. Water temp is 83°F, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual.
From Saturday 26 July through Tuesday 29 July, it’s all tiny, weak swell – 1ft to 2ft – with short periods of 6 to 8 seconds. Winds are cross or cross-off, but the wave energy is tiny, with combined energy readings between 25 and 80 (weak). It’s flat and boring.
The first hint of life is Wednesday morning, 30 July. We’ve got a 3ft S swell at 7 seconds, combined energy hitting 81 (still weak). The wind is glassy – dead calm – which is a big plus. The waves will be clean but small and weak. You could surf it on a longboard, but it’s nothing special.
Then we hit a massive gap. From Thursday 31 July through Sunday 10 August, there’s nothing worth paddling for. The swell stays small – 1ft to 5ft – but the winds are nearly all onshore or cross-onshore, turning the ocean into a choppy mess. Even on the 2nd and 3rd of August, when the swell bumps up to 4ft and 5ft with combined energy of 261 (moderate), the onshore winds ruin it. Period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s just lumpy, disorganized junk. That kind of setup with a beach break and strong wind might be better suited for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
The only other half-decent moment is Friday 7 August morning. A 3ft S swell at 6 seconds, combined energy 50 (weak), but with a light cross-offshore wind. It’ll be clean, but it’s very small and weak. Not a standout.
The best of a bad lot? That Wednesday morning, 30 July, at Pelican Watch. It’s not big, it’s not powerful, but it’s the only time you’ll see glassy conditions and a tiny bit of shape. Grab a foamie and enjoy the solitude – crowds are possible here, but on a day like this, you’ll probably have it all to yourself. For everyone else, leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 6 | SE 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 37 | 40 | 42 | 65 | 47 | 29 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 41 | 32 | 39 | 78 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 31 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:58PM1.41m | 6:07AM0.93m | 6:43PM1.45m | 6:52AM0.98m | 7:24PM1.49m | 7:34AM1.02m | 8:03PM1.52m | 8:14AM1.08m | 8:39PM1.53m | 8:53AM1.12m | 9:14PM1.52m | 9:31AM1.18m | 9:49PM1.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:28AM0.23m | 11:47AM0.12m | 1:11AM0.20m | 12:33PM0.09m | 1:49AM0.16m | 1:16PM0.06m | 2:25AM0.12m | 1:57PM0.05m | 2:59AM0.09m | 2:37PM0.04m | 3:32AM0.06m | 3:17PM0.05m | 4:03AM0.05m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — |
mm | 20 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 6 | SSW 6 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 37 | 40 | 42 | 65 | 47 | 29 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 41 | 23 | 27 | 78 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 31 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSW 4 | ENE 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 6 | — | SE 7 | E 9 | SSW 6 | E 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 39 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | NE 6 | SW 4 | SW 5 | — | SSW 5 | ENE 5 | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 4 | — | SE 10 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | WNW 3 | SW 6 | SW 6 | NNE 3 | — | E 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 18 | 12 | 36 | 198 | 1 | 32 | 39 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 54 | 129 | 243 | 253 | 960 | 960 | 669 | 282 | 960 | 294 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 548 | 138 | 129 | 364 | 352 |
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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