
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, S swell with 100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here, and lookin’ at the forecast for Pelican Watch over the next couple weeks, it’s a pretty quiet stretch for the most part. The swell stays small, and honest to God, it’s more of a waiting game than anything else. The first real chance to wet a line, or rather a board, comes right out of the gate early in the period, but even then it’s nothing to write home about.
Sunday the 26th starts off with tiny 2ft surf from the ESE at 8 seconds, but the wind is a cross-on mess, so forget about it. That same theme carries through Monday and Tuesday the 27th and 28th with 1.3ft to 1.6ft waves and cross-shore winds leaving the surface full of bumps. Not worth paddling out.
The first little flicker of hope shows up Wednesday morning the 29th. Early on, we get a cleaner 2.6ft from the S with a short 6-second period under a light cross-offshore northwesterly breeze. It’s not a classic, but it’s rideable. The standout of the whole window, though, is the start of the second week. On Monday morning August the 5th, a pulse of swell arrives, delivering 4ft from the S with 6-second period. The combined wave energy sits at 211 — moderate energy, real enough to push you around. And the wind? Glassy, absolute flat calm. That’s the session to circle. The waves won’t be huge, but clean small surf beats dirty small surf every time.
For the rest, Thursday the 6th morning bumps up to 4.6ft from the SSW, and while the energy climbs to 293, there’s a light cross-shore breeze that keeps it a bit raggedy. It’s marginal at best, and the afternoon onshore messes it up entirely.
Overall, peaking clean on August 5th is your best bet, but keep the expectations low for size. It’s a beginner-friendly break here, so that waist-high glassy stuff will be fine for learning or a lazy session. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing bizarre to report. Crowds are possible here, so you might share the little waves.
That’s the story. Stay patient.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
40 | 49 | 49 | 34 | 33 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 46 | 34 | 35 | 90 | 40 | 34 | 37 | 21 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | ||||||
— | 6:18 | — | — | 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 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 |
40 | 49 | 49 | 34 | 33 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 46 | 28 | 34 | 90 | 40 | 34 | 37 | 21 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | S 5 | — | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 7 | SE 8 | E 8 | S 6 | E 10 | SE 9 | S 6 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 15 | 34 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | E 6 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | ENE 5 | E 6 | — | — | E 6 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | S 5 | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | SW 6 | — | — | SE 4 | — | NE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 |
— | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 168 | — | 71 | — | — | 16 | — | 1 | 13 | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 129 | 243 | 253 | 960 | 966 | 489 | 858 | 960 | 351 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 23 | 129 | 138 | 288 |
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.










