Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, S swell with 388 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. 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 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Rusty here.
We’re talking about Pelican Watch. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, open to swell, but the forecast is a slow starter. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.
The first real surf worth paddling into doesn’t pop up until Sunday, July 19th in the morning. Before that, from Wednesday the 15th through Saturday the 18th, it’s a total blank – poor surf, tiny energy, nothing doing. That’s a four-day stretch of flat.
So, Sunday morning, July 19th, we finally get a pulse. Swell hits 5 ft from the south, short period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 328. It’s clean with cross-offshore wind, but the wave comment says it’s marginal – a bit lumpy for that size. Afternoon fades.
Monday morning, July 20th, is surfable but nothing to write home about. Swell drops to 4 ft from the south, 6-second period, energy down to 100. Clean, but very ordinary.
The rest of that week into the next is mostly poor, with a few clean moments but weak energy. The wind stays cross-offshore, so it’s tidy, but the swell just isn’t there.
Now, the real standout is Tuesday, July 28th. This is the one. The morning is glassy – wind from the north at just 3 mph, which is about as clean as it gets. Swell is a solid 7 ft from the south with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 542. That’s a proper push. The wave comment says expect very good surf conditions. This is a morning for experienced surfers – 7 ft is too much for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of skill, this is going to be a blast. The afternoon gets a little onshore, but the morning is the pick.
Wednesday, July 29th, still holds solid energy. Both morning and afternoon have 5 ft south swell, 7-second period, combined energy around 250-264. Clean with cross-offshore wind again. Good, not great, but a solid follow-up to the Tuesday peak.
Thursday, July 30th morning, the swell drops back to 3 ft from the southeast, but it’s glassy again. Clean little waves for the beginners.
So, if you’re planning a session, the standout is Tuesday morning, July 28th at Pelican Watch. Glassy, solid 7 ft south swell, strong energy. That’s the one to chase.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 23 | 143 | 236 | 270 | 269 | 152 | 192 | 193 | 204 | 258 | 362 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 1:32AM1.14m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:26AM1.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:37AM0.06m | 8:36PM0.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 8 | E 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 27 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SW 5 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 20 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SSW 5 | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | — | 18 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 143 | 236 | 270 | 269 | 152 | 192 | 193 | 204 | 258 | 362 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 110 | 23 | 842 | 892 | 895 | 842 | 1573 | 1230 | 2540 | 1573 | 1573 | 351 | 304 | 82 | 294 | 294 | 0 | 561 | 352 | 99 | 489 |
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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