Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SW swell with 139 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with SE 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for our local stretch. Gotta be straight with you – this isn’t a week for epic tales. We’ve got a long, flat-feeling run ahead with only tiny, ordinary waves on offer, so we’re playing a waiting game.
The first little pulse of weak energy kicks off on Friday morning, the 24th of July, at Pelican Watch. It’s tiny, with swell at 2 ft from the southeast and a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 53, so there’s no punch to it. A cross-offshore wind will keep the surface clean, but the wave comment tells the story: “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s beginner-friendly at this size, but don’t expect much joy. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
That Friday afternoon is a write-off, and the pattern holds. We slog through a long stretch of “poor surf conditions” from the 24th all the way through the end of July and into the first days of August. There are a few sessions with glassy conditions – Monday the 3rd of August morning is dead flat with 3 ft from the SSE but a short period of 7 seconds, and Tuesday the 4th August morning is similarly clean but tiny at 2 ft. These are the only real highlights, but the energy is so weak (combined energy of 86 and 51) that it’s barely a ripple. The light winds will make it look pretty, but there’s no power behind it.
The best of a pretty quiet run looks like Thursday morning, the 7th of August. The wind goes calm and glassy, with a tiny 3 ft SSW swell at 6 seconds. The combined energy is only 61, so it’s still weak, but if you’re desperate for a glide on a foamie with absolutely no wind, that’s your window. The rest of the 16-day run is just poor, onshore crud or clean but completely gutless. Honestly, for a more experienced surfer, there’s nothing to get excited about here.
Given the small, weak swell and a beach break setup, this looks more suited for a kite session than a proper paddle-out on most days. Stay tuned, forecasts change. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Sun night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 31 | 53 | 50 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 47 | 61 | 36 | 47 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 29 | 41 | 126 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:22AM0.91m | 5:09PM1.37m | 5:17AM0.91m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:45PM0.28m | 10:07AM0.16m | 11:40PM0.26m | 10:58AM0.15m | 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 | ||||||
 | | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | |  | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 8:19 | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | 12 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 |
| kJ | 31 | 53 | 50 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 47 | 61 | 36 | 47 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 29 | 41 | 85 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 6 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 7 | E 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | E 6 | NE 7 | — | — | SW 4 | SSE 6 | — | — | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | E 7 | E 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | — | NE 4 | NE 6 | ENE 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | WSW 5 | S 7 |
| kJ | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 5 | — | 4 | 16 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 25 | 12 | 42 | 51 | 42 | 10 | 126 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 0 | 2540 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 22 | 54 | 243 | 54 | 547 | 837 | 278 | 54 | 592 | 527 | 355 | 0 | 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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