Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSW swell with 290 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with SSW 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 22) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s give you the same picture but in feet and knots.
Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet for Pelican Watch. The first real day with any surf worth mentioning is Thursday, July 23rd. The whole start of the period is a write-off, with nothing but tiny, weak dribble and messy cross-off winds. We’ve got a gap of a few days before we see anything.
Thursday morning, July 23rd, is the standout moment. It’s not huge, but it’s about the best we’re going to get. We’re looking at a clean 4ft swell from the SSW, with the wind turning glassy, light NNW at about 3 mph. That’s a proper offshore for the spot, and the water is a warm 84°F – about average for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (203). It’s a short period swell though, only 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit soft and lumpy, but for a beginner spot, it’s about as fun as it gets. The crowd factor is worth noting; it often gets busy, so expect company.
Wednesday, July 22nd, is a bit of a tease. The swell picks up to 5ft in the morning, hitting 6ft in the afternoon from the SSW, with moderate energy (203 and 239). But the wind is a fresh SW cross-off at 19 mph, which will mess with the shape. At 6ft, it’s getting a bit too much for beginners, and the wind will make it choppy.
After that, it’s a long, flat spell. From Thursday afternoon through to the end of the month, we’re stuck with tiny, dribbly waves under 3ft, and mostly poor conditions. There’s a glimmer of a clean, offshore breeze on Saturday afternoon, July 25th, with a 2ft ESE swell, but the energy is weak (67) and the period is short. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
The first of August brings a tiny bit of life again, with a 3ft ENE swell on Saturday morning, cross-off wind, but it’s a weak 6-second period. It’s clean, but small. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak, and windy.
So, the only real window to get a decent wave is Thursday morning, July 23rd. It’s small, clean, and a good one for the beginners. Don’t get your hopes up for anything else in this stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 81 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 290 | 186 | 220 | 117 | 127 | 16 | 42 | 31 | 44 | 42 | 39 | 58 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:31PM1.36m | 00:41AM1.29m | 1:26PM1.35m | 1:32AM1.14m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:26AM1.03m | 3:20PM1.34m | 3:23AM0.94m | 4:16PM1.35m | 4:22AM0.91m | 5:09PM1.37m | 5:17AM0.91m | 5:58PM1.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:30PM0.10m | 6:50AM-0.00m | 7:31PM0.18m | 7:37AM0.06m | 8:36PM0.25m | 8:25AM0.11m | 9:42PM0.28m | 9:15AM0.14m | 10:45PM0.28m | 10:07AM0.16m | 11:40PM0.26m | 10:58AM0.15m | 00:28AM0.23m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 27 | 1 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 19 | 1 |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 8 | 19 | 24 | 62 | 16 | 42 | 15 | 44 | 42 | 39 | 4 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 17 | — | 16 | 31 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — | ENE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | NE 2 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 8 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 81 | 114 | 108 | 55 | 78 | 98 | 104 | 145 | 290 | 186 | 220 | 117 | 127 | 77 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 29 | 12 | 58 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 282 | 642 | 541 | 253 | 2178 | 3 | 119 | 1230 | 454 | 351 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 54 | 465 | 140 | 519 | 129 | 0 | 142 |
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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