
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, SW swell with 314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m 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 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s take a look at Pelican Watch over the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a tough one – there’s no real standout session, no day where it all clicks. We’ve got a long, flat stretch ahead with mostly tiny, weak swell and a heap of cross-off wind. The first hint of anything rideable doesn’t pop up until Saturday morning, July 11th. Before that, from Monday the 6th right through to Friday the 10th, it’s all “poor surf conditions” with scores of zero – a total blank. So you’re looking at a solid 5-day gap of nothing. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Pelican Watch is a beginner-friendly beach break, fairly consistent but exposed to the south. The swell is coming from the south and southeast, which is the ideal direction, but the size is the killer. Even the “bigger” swells only reach 3ft on Friday morning and again on Monday morning the 13th of July. That’s tiny, and with periods mostly between 4 and 7 seconds – short period, windswell – it’s got no grunt. The combined energy is all in the weak two-digit range, confirming there’s no real power.
Saturday morning the 11th is the first time we see a score of 1 out of 10, described as “surfable but very ordinary.” Swell is 2ft from the south with a 6-second period, a light breeze from the SW at 6 mph, cross-off. It’s small and weak, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window. Tuesday morning the 14th of July is similar – glassy conditions with SW wind at 3 mph, and a 3ft swell from the east-southeast at a short 5-second period. It’s clean, but the energy is still weak. Don’t expect any real shape.
The rest of the two weeks is all “poor surf conditions,” with waves under 3ft and mostly onshore or cross-off winds picking up in the afternoons. There’s a couple of glassy mornings – Sunday the 12th (1ft, light north wind) and Monday the 13th (3ft, but a 4-second period from the east-southeast) – but the swell is so small and weak it’s barely a ripple. It’s not even worth paddling out for a beginner.
So, I gotta be straight with ya – there’s nothing here to get stoked on. If you’re a kiter, the consistent cross-off winds and clean conditions on some days might work for you, but for surfing, this is a lean run. Hang tight and check back – forecasts can change, but right now, the only “best” on offer is Tuesday morning the 14th of July for a quiet, glassy paddle on knee-high mush. That’s the pick of a very poor bunch. Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 28°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sun 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 10 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | S 7 | ESE 9 | SW 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 24 | 33 | 23 | 41 | 22 | 21 | 41 | 32 | 22 | 47 | 19 | 169 | 89 | 9 | 314 | 40 | 50 | 30 | 29 | 29 | |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:11AM1.30m | 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 | 6:28AM0.05m | 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 | ||||||||
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | |
8:25 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 25 | 29 | 31 |
Feels °C | 30 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 35 | 28 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 7 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
17 | 24 | 16 | 23 | 41 | 22 | 21 | 41 | 32 | 22 | 47 | 19 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 149 | 40 | 15 | 22 | 29 | 29 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | — | — | SE 10 | E 11 | — | ESE 9 | — | E 12 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | E 9 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 |
— | 14 | — | — | 24 | 2 | — | 32 | — | 3 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 30 | 10 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SW 7 | — | SSW 6 | — | — | ESE 3 |
12 | 32 | 33 | 39 | 69 | 74 | 95 | 74 | 85 | 92 | 82 | 86 | 169 | 89 | 193 | 314 | — | 50 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 532 | 3 | 960 | 489 | 19 | 605 | 304 | 17 | 956 | 529 | 99 | 1155 | 282 | 99 | 304 | 363 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 54 | 465 |
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.











