Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SW swell with 161 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 Sunday (Jul 12) 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s chat about what’s happening at Pelican Watch.
Alright, I’ll be honest—this forecast is a slow one. For the first ten days or so, it’s pretty flat and ugly. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak surf with messy winds and barely any energy in the water. Water temp is sittin’ around 84°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The action doesn’t really fire up until Tuesday, July 21st. That’s the first real standout. Tuesday morning brings a solid pulse of 5ft SSW swell, with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy hitting 247 (moderate). The wind turns offshore from the WNW at 6 mph, keeping it clean. It’s a bit punchy for beginners at that size, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is the best window we’ve had. Then Tuesday afternoon glass off with NW wind at 3 mph, and the swell bumps up to 6ft – still SSW, still 7 seconds, energy still 247. That afternoon session is gonna be smooth and lined up. The only downside is that it’s exposed and the swell direction is straight out of the south, which is a bit off the ideal SE, but the size and clean conditions make up for it.
After that, Thursday, July 23rd afternoon brings another spike: 6ft SSW swell, 6 seconds, energy of 290 (moderate), and offshore wind from the WSW at 12 mph. That’s got some grunt to it, but it’s getting into the expert-only zone—over 8ft would be a no-go, but 6ft is still manageable for the experienced crew. The offshore wind will hold it together nicely, but the period is short, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and less pushy than a longer period swell.
The rest of the run is mostly tiny—1ft to 3ft—with cross-offshore or onshore winds, and combined energy barely cracking 100. There’s a little bump on the 18th and 19th of July with 3ft to 4ft ENE swell, but it’s coming from the east with a short period of 5 seconds and cross-onshore wind, so it’ll be choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.
So, if you’re keen, pencil in Tuesday, July 21st morning and afternoon, and maybe Thursday, July 23rd afternoon if you’ve got the skills. The rest of the fortnight is a dud.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ENE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 33 | 40 | 38 | 33 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 35 | 23 | 31 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 35 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on |
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 | 11:36AM1.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:19AM-0.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 |
 | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | 8:22 |
mm | — | 6 | 3 | 5 | 24 | — | 3 | 15 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — |
Temp °C | 33 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 27 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 29 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SE 10 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 21 | 33 | 40 | 23 | 22 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 35 | 23 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 22 | 23 | — | 33 | 21 | 20 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | E 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SW 6 | — | S 6 | — | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 55 | 97 | — | 38 | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 23 | — | 35 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 0 | 0 | 541 | 0 | 54 | 23 | 54 | 54 | 142 | 54 | 54 | 253 | 847 | 847 | 609 | 352 | 54 | 2144 | 129 | 110 |
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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