Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, SSW swell with 261 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM. 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cooking at Pelican Watch.
The first week is pretty grim. There's a long stretch of barely rideable waves or complete junk. You'll be waiting a while.
The one true standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Monday, July 27th. The swell is a clean 3ft from the ESE, with a 9-second period. The wind is a light offshore from the SSW, which will keep the faces clean. The combined energy is solid (124), and it’s the best combo of wave size and conditions we get. The morning of Tuesday the 28th is also usable, with a smaller 2ft swell and light winds, but the energy is lower.
Before that, Sunday, July 19th morning offers a 4ft swell from the S, but the period is short (6 seconds) and the conditions are just okay. The Monday the 20th morning is cleaner with a light offshore, but it's still small.
The water temp is running about average for this time of year.
So, bottom line: the first week is a wash. Circle Monday, July 27th on your calendar. That’s the one to go for. The 3ft waves with clean offshore wind will be a nice reward for the wait. It's a great size for beginners too.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Sun afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Mon 20 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 5 | E 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 34 | 59 | 40 | 34 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 95 | 0 | 212 | 107 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 11:52PM1.44m | 12:31PM1.36m | 00:41AM1.29m | 1:26PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:31PM-0.00m | 6:05AM-0.06m | 6:30PM0.10m | 6:50AM-0.00m | 7:31PM0.18m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — |
 | 8:23 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 |
mm | 7 | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 33 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 29 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | — | — | SW 4 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | E 15 | — | — | E 14 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 5 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 34 | 59 | 40 | 34 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 106 | 95 | 192 | 212 | 107 | 113 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 23 | 1566 | 23 | 129 | 685 | 892 | 892 | 742 | 878 | 842 | 1583 | 971 | 1573 | 2540 | 575 | 0 | 304 | 54 | 0 | 605 |
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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