
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with 171 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with ESE 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 26) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8AM. 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 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Pelican Watch.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim for any kind of decent wave. There’s a real dry spell setting in. From Sunday the 26th of July all the way through to the morning of Saturday the 1st of August, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell with hardly any energy behind it. The combined wave energy is barely cracking double digits, sitting between 14 and 61 (weak energy), and the swell heights are just 1 ft to 3 ft of short-period, wind-affected slop. You’d be fighting cross-onshore breezes most of that time, making it choppy and messy. It’s honestly not worth paddling out for.
Now, there’s a slight glimmer on the afternoon of Saturday the 1st of August, but it’s still a poor 3 ft and cross-shore wind. The real change comes on Sunday the 2nd of August. We finally see a pulse of south swell pushing in, with swell heights hitting 6 ft and the combined energy jumping to 267 (moderate wave energy). The wind goes slightly cross-offshore from the SSW, so the surface could be clean. This is a short-period swell though, only 7 seconds, so it won’t have that grunty, lined-up feel. Still, it’s the best we’ve seen in days. The Monday the 3rd of August holds onto some nice 4 ft to 5 ft south swell with clean cross-offshore winds, but energy drops off a cliff after that.
Honestly, if you’re after a standout, Sunday the 2nd of August is your best bet. It’s the biggest swell of the whole 16-day window, and the winds are clean. For a beginner spot like Pelican Watch, 6 ft is pushing it a bit, but for a competent surfer, it’s doable. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 83°, which is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed, just boardshorts.
The rest of the second week is a real letdown. From Tuesday the 4th of August onward, it’s back to tiny, weak swell in the 1 ft to 3 ft range, with dirty cross-shore or cross-onshore winds. The only exception is Saturday the 8th of August morning, which sees a bump of 3 ft south-southeast swell with a moderate energy reading of 241, but it’s cross-shore and likely to be a bit bumpy. Not a standout by any stretch.
So, bottom line: there’s a long gap of poor surf from now until the 1st of August, then a brief, decent window on the 2nd and 3rd of August, and then it dries up again. The 2nd is the only day that really gets the heart pumping, but it’s more of a solid, clean session than a classic.
Stay patient, and check back in – forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 4 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 49 | 34 | 33 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 36 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 55 | 26 | 38 | 35 | 19 | 17 | 51 | 71 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:10AM1.23m | 10:24PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:58PM0.07m | 4:36AM0.03m | |||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 36 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
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 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | SE 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | E 4 | ESE 9 |
49 | 49 | 34 | 33 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 36 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 55 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | — | SW 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | S 7 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 7 | SSW 6 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
1 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | ENE 6 | — | S 6 | — | — | — | E 6 | — | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | S 6 | S 6 |
9 | — | — | — | 5 | 10 | 9 | 25 | 143 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 35 | 19 | 7 | 51 | 71 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 110 | 243 | 253 | 755 | 960 | 978 | 712 | 922 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 243 | 129 | 109 | 110 | 110 | 140 | 532 | 243 | 529 | 575 |
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.










