Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, S swell with 239 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. 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 1.7m 6s 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the outlook is a bit of a struggle. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until late Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. Before that, we’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell and tricky winds. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 84°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.
The standout window is the morning of Wednesday, the 29th of July at Pelican Watch. We’ve got a 3ft swell coming from the south, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 116 (moderate), so there’s some push there. The wind is a light northwesterly, which is cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. It’s not the kind of swell that will blow your mind, but given the dry spell, it’s the best we’ve got. The afternoon cleans up even more with a light offshore west wind, though the swell drops a touch to 3ft. Crowds are likely here, so be ready to share.
The following morning, Thursday the 30th, sees similar 3ft south swell, but the wind is cross-shore, which will mess with the shape a bit. The energy is still moderate (104), but it’s not as clean as Wednesday.
After that, the swell fades and the wind turns more onshore or cross-onshore, with poor conditions through the end of July and into August. There’s a small pulse of 3ft south swell on Saturday the 1st of August, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, so it’ll be choppy and messy. Not worth getting excited about.
For the second week, the pattern stays weak. Small, short-period swell from the south and southeast, with mostly cross-offshore winds, but the wave heights are tiny and the energy is low. It’s a quiet period overall.
So, if you’re picking a day, make it Wednesday the 29th of July. It’s not a classic, but it’s the cleanest and most consistent option in this run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 0 | 239 | 165 | 24 | 24 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 42 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 41 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 23 |
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-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 6:07AM0.93m | 6:43PM1.45m | 6:52AM0.98m | 7:24PM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:47AM0.12m | 1:11AM0.20m | 12:33PM0.09m | 1:49AM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 8 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 26 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 20 | — | — | 23 | 24 | 24 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 42 | 39 | 19 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 41 | 23 | 13 | 19 | 23 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | — | NE 6 | ESE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 37 | 8 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 19 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 75 | 105 | 239 | 165 | 145 | 113 | 102 | 84 | 42 | 25 | 27 | 43 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 17 | — | 22 | 47 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1230 | 1230 | 454 | 576 | 304 | 351 | 119 | 54 | 42 | 243 | 288 | 304 | 0 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 129 | 23 | 978 | 837 | 1160 |
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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