Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 320 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 7s period. 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s talk about Pelican Watch. The water’s sitting at 83°, which is pretty normal for this time of year—nothing to write home about.
The first week and a half is a real struggle. Swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the period is short, so the energy is weak. The combined energy is often below 30, sometimes as low as 7, which is basically a flat lake. The wind is offshore or cross-off a lot, so the surface is clean, but there’s just no wave to ride. Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th are flat. Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th stay tiny at 1 ft to 2 ft. Friday 17th and Saturday 18th are even smaller. You’re not going anywhere.
Then, on Sunday 19th, something finally shows up. Swell jumps to 4 ft in the morning, building to 6 ft by the afternoon, from the south. The period is still short (6 to 7 seconds), so it’s a bit lumpy, but the combined energy hits 320 (moderate energy). Winds are offshore from the SSW, keeping it clean. This is your best shot. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only real swell in the 16-day window. For a beginner spot, 6 ft is getting a bit heavy, but it’s still surfable. Expect crowds.
Monday 20th drops to 5 ft, but the wind goes cross-on from the NE, making it choppy. The energy is still there (323), but the quality fades fast. Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd are small again with onshore wind and rain. Not worth it.
The second week, from 23rd July onward, is a total bust. Swell never gets above 3 ft, period is short, and the wind is mostly cross-off but there’s no power. The combined energy is under 70. A couple of mornings on 26th and 27th July show a little bump with offshore WSW wind and 2 ft to 3 ft of SE swell, but it’s still very ordinary.
If you’re a paddle surfer, your only real window is Sunday 19th. That’s it. For kite surfers, the stronger winds on 20th and 21st might make the messy conditions more fun, but for a regular surf, this is a long, flat patch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 33 | 33 | 57 | 47 | 26 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 44 | 119 | 320 | 173 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:40PM1.85m | 7:57AM1.22m | 8:33PM1.85m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:47PM-0.22m | 2:05AM-0.09m | 1:46PM-0.24m | 2:56AM-0.12m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 14 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | — | — |
| kJ | 29 | 28 | 29 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 44 | 68 | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 7 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | — | SSW 5 | — | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | S 4 | — | E 15 | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 3 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | 5 | 33 | 33 | 57 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 69 | 119 | 320 | 173 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 837 | 1230 | 23 | 23 | 1230 | 23 | 278 | 837 | 640 | 946 | 616 | 82 | 1573 | 2144 | 1573 | 1763 | 2336 | 548 | 19 | 489 | 0 |
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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