
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, SSW swell with 207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 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 Pelican Watch has in store for us over this 16-day stretch. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a long, flat spell for the most part, with only a couple of brief moments that might get your heart rate up.
The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there – just standard tropical bathwater.
Looking at the whole picture, we’re in for a dry run. From now through the end of July, the swell is tiny – mostly around 1ft to 2ft – and the wind is often messy. There’s a bit of a tease on the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July when the swell bumps up to 4ft from the SSW, with a clean cross-offshore breeze (WSW). The combined energy hits 206 (moderate), but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s gonna be weak, bumpy little waves. Not worth paddling out for any surfer who’s been in the water more than a year.
Then we hit another flat zone until Sunday the 2nd of August. That afternoon, we get a 4ft swell from the SE with a period of 8 seconds and cross-off winds (SSW). The energy climbs to 143 (moderate) – still small, but at least the offshore wind will keep it clean. Not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a week.
But the real highlight – and I mean the *only* highlight worth circling on your calendar – is Monday the 3rd of August. Morning sees the swell hitting 5ft from the S, period of 7 seconds, with clean cross-off winds (SSW). The combined energy jumps to 243 (moderate). That’s the most juice we get. Monday afternoon holds at 5ft from the S, same wind, energy at 264. Tuesday the 4th of August morning is the pick of the whole forecast: still 5ft from the SSW, cross-off breeze (SW), and energy pumping at 363 (strong). These are the only days where the swell actually pushes past the 5ft mark, which puts it into the “too big for beginners” zone, but still very manageable for intermediate and experienced surfers. The short period (7 seconds) means the waves won’t have that long-range grunt, but with clean offshore conditions, Pelican Watch should offer some fun, crumbly lefts and rights.
However, after Tuesday afternoon – the 4th – it drops off a cliff. By Wednesday the 5th, we’re back to 2ft and nothing of consequence for the rest of the window. The final 9 days are basically flat, with weak energy readings between 12 and 39. The wind stays clean offshore, but there’s simply no swell to work with.
So to wrap it up: we’ve got a long gap of no real surf until the 29th of July, then a poor quality mini-blip, another gap, and then a 2-day window from the 3rd to the 4th of August that offers the only genuine surf. Tuesday morning the 4th is your best bet. After that, it’s a ghost town. Expect crowds if you head out during that window – this spot gets ‘often’ busy, and when it’s the only game in town, it’ll be packed.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 63mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, light winds from the NW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 37 | 40 | 42 | 65 | 47 | 29 | 21 | 19 | 31 | 24 | 12 | 128 | 97 | 30 | 67 | 99 | 71 | 51 | 34 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
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 | 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 | 2:37PM0.04m | 3:32AM0.06m | 3:17PM0.05m | 4:03AM0.05m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 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 | 10 | 40 | 8 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 25 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 36 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 |
37 | 37 | 40 | 42 | 65 | 47 | 29 | 19 | 19 | 31 | 24 | 12 | 78 | 44 | 30 | 67 | 99 | 71 | 51 | 34 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | E 6 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSE 6 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | — | SE 7 | SE 8 | E 8 | — | SE 8 | SSW 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 23 | 28 | 1 | — | 50 | 9 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | E 6 | NE 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | — | SE 10 | NE 6 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | ESE 9 | E 6 | ENE 3 |
— | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | — |
8 | 19 | — | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 148 | 128 | 97 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 22 | 54 | 129 | 837 | 253 | 960 | 960 | 700 | 489 | 489 | 489 | 19 | 54 | 0 | 23 | 140 | 109 | 23 | 837 | 253 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










