Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Issued: 7 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.2° C

Normal for this time of year

Pelican Watch surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Pelican Watch surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SW swell with 267 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 11th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright folks, Rusty here. It's gonna be a lean stretch for a while at Pelican Watch. We've got a 16-day window, but the first few days are a write-off for any decent surf. The wind's been messy and the swell's tiny, so don't even bother paddling out.

The first real chance of something rideable doesn't show up until Saturday morning, July 11th. We'll see a 4ft swell from the SSW, but it's short-period stuff at 6 seconds with moderate wave energy (176). The wind is offshore from the W which is a big plus, so it'll be clean, but the conditions are still pretty ordinary. It's a beginner spot, so if you're just learning, this might be okay, but don't expect much.

Sunday morning, July 12th brings a tiny 2ft S swell. The period is still short at 6 seconds and the energy is weak (71). The real story here is the wind – it's glassy, dead calm. That's a major positive for clean conditions, but the swell is so small it's barely breaking. Worth a look if you're desperate for a slippery water session.

After that, we drift back into a long stretch of small, poor-quality surf with strong cross-off winds for days right through to the end of the second week. A few spots on the horizon: Thursday afternoon, July 16th sees a 5ft SSW swell with a 6-second period and moderate energy (190), but the commentary calls it "poor surf conditions" despite offshore wind. That's a lot of water moving for a beach break with short period – might be more of a mess than a treat.

Then there's Saturday, July 18th with 5ft SSW swell (190 energy) and a 6-second period, but again, "poor surf conditions" and strong cross-off winds. For a beach break like this, that's going to be blown-out and choppy. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The best of the lot, and I'm using that term loosely, comes on Monday morning, July 20th. A small 3ft SE swell, 7-second period, weak energy (82). But the wind is glassy, dead calm. That's your best chance for clean little waves all period. And Tuesday morning, July 21st is similar with a 4ft SE swell, 6-second period and glassy conditions (100 energy). Very ordinary, but glassy is glassy.

For a standout? There isn't one. This is a patch where you gotta be patient. The consistent cross-off winds and short-period swells are a tough combo. We'll just have to wait and see if the forecasts change. Keep an eye on the sky, not the buoys.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 28°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 36°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri night, light winds from the WNW by Sat night).

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
1.4
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
6
0.4
SE
9
1.7
SSW
6
1
SSW
7
0.3
SE
9
1.4
SSW
6
1.2
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
0.4
SE
10
0.7
S
6
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
24
16
23
24
22
21
20
21
146
50
20
207
96
12
160
106
53
33
39
32
33
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
20
S
25
SW
15
SW
30
SSW
20
SW
20
SW
25
SW
25
SW
20
SW
10
WSW
25
SW
20
WSW
25
SW
30
SW
15
W
30
SW
5
WNW
5
W
20
S
10
SE
Wind State
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
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-on
High Tide
12:52PM1.21m
00:57AM1.22m
1:45PM1.30m
1:49AM1.15m
2:43PM1.41m
2:48AM1.09m
3:44PM1.51m
3:50AM1.06m
4:45PM1.62m
4:55AM1.06m
5:46PM1.73m
5:58AM1.09m
6:44PM1.80m
Low Tide
6:46PM0.18m
7:09AM0.02m
7:48PM0.19m
7:56AM-0.00m
8:56PM0.18m
8:49AM-0.04m
10:06PM0.14m
9:46AM-0.08m
11:12PM0.09m
10:47AM-0.13m
00:14AM0.02m
11:48AM-0.18m
1:11AM-0.04m
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:25
8:25
8:24
8:24
8:24
8:24
8:23
 mm
2
2
1
3
10
1
1
16
Temp °C
31
31
28
32
33
29
33
34
30
33
34
29
32
33
29
33
36
31
30
32
29
Feels °C
32
30
30
33
32
30
34
33
30
34
33
29
33
32
29
33
34
34
33
34
31
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.8
SSW
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.7
S
6
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
Energy kJ
14
16
23
24
22
21
20
21
22
21
20
19
8
12
13
56
22
33
39
32
33
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.3
SE
9
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
9
0.4
SE
9
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
19
3
2
1
2
2
2
12
2
2
30
1
1
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
7
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
2
2
2
2
1
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
5
0.9
S
5
1.1
SSW
5
0.9
S
6
1.2
SSW
5
1.3
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
5
1.4
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
5
1.7
SSW
6
1
SSW
7
1.4
SSW
6
1.4
SSW
6
1.2
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
1.2
SSW
5
1.1
SSW
4
1.4
SSW
6
Energy kJ
24
40
66
54
87
104
60
103
146
50
103
207
96
119
160
106
53
72
42
132
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
2144
821
465
82
818
21
22
253
253
22
3
357
54
527
527
0
990
17
0
532
23
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
4
2
2
3
4
1
3
1
1
2
1
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
6
6
5
8
6
5
5
5
9
9
7
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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