Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSW swell with 282 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a cuppa, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch for Pelican Watch. The first two weeks are pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a solid 11-day gap with no real surf to speak of, from Friday the 17th right through to Monday the 28th of July. The swell is tiny, often under 3 ft, and what little energy there is comes in with short periods under 8 seconds, so it’s all wind-slop and weak lines. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, which isn’t the worst, but there’s just no power in the water to make anything of it. The combined swell energy (8-100) is practically non-existent most days. It’s a real bummer.
The only glimmer of hope, and I mean a very faint one, arrives right at the tail end of the outlook. On Tuesday the 29th of July, we see a bit of a pulse from the south pushing the swell up to 4 ft, with a period of 6-7 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the moderate range (240-275). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but you’ll actually have something to ride. The water temp is a balmy 83°, which is about average for this time of year at Pelican Watch.
But honestly, the best of the whole lot falls on Saturday the 1st of August. It’s the only day the forecast even mentions “surfable waves.” The swell is still small, around 2-3 ft from the south-southwest, period is a weak 7 seconds, but the key here is the wind. On Saturday afternoon, it goes glassy. Dead flat calm. That’s a major positive. The combined energy is low (51-73), but if you’re on a longboard or a foamie, you might get a few clean, tiny peelers all to yourself. For a beginner, the size is perfect, but do expect crowds to be possible here.
The rest of the first week of August still looks very ordinary. Swell stays small and the wind turns onshore.
So, to sum it up: the true standout is Saturday the 1st of August afternoon. It’s not a big swell, but the glassy conditions will make it the most fun you’ll have in this flat spell. For the rest of it, you’re better off doing something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 128 | 176 | 282 | 91 | 6 | 177 | 91 | 182 | 261 | 187 | 226 | 247 | 88 | 51 | 28 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:41AM1.36m | 11:04PM1.59m | 11:36AM1.37m | 11:52PM1.44m | 12:31PM1.36m | 00:41AM1.29m | 1:26PM1.35m | 1:32AM1.14m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:26AM1.03m | 3:20PM1.34m | 3:23AM0.94m | 4:16PM1.35m | 4:22AM0.91m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:36PM0.25m | 8:25AM0.11m | 9:42PM0.28m | 9:15AM0.14m | 10:45PM0.28m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 9 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 35 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | S 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 3 | 152 | 2 | 6 | 101 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 23 | 88 | 51 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 13 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 15 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 131 | 128 | 176 | 282 | 91 | 113 | 177 | 91 | 182 | 261 | 187 | 226 | 247 | — | 8 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2144 | 1573 | 1580 | 1670 | 646 | 352 | 304 | 294 | 0 | 54 | 575 | 575 | 1906 | 547 | 355 | 562 | 351 | 0 | 23 | 42 | 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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