Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, SSW swell with 307 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s 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 04) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period. 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 10th 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
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about Pelican Watch for the next couple of weeks. I gotta be honest—this is a rough one. We’re looking at a long, flat, and frustrating stretch with very little to get stoked about. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing crazy.
The first week is a total loss. From Saturday the 4th right through the end of the following week, conditions are just poor. Tiny swell, mostly under 2 feet, and the wind is always blowing cross or cross-off, never really cleaning things up. Wave energy is weak, barely hitting double digits (46 on Saturday morning, down to 19 by Sunday afternoon). There’s not a single session in that first stretch worth paddling out for.
Wednesday the 8th morning gives us a tiny glimmer—a clean 2-foot south swell with a light offshore wind from the west at 6 mph. Energy is still weak (65), and the report calls it "surfable but very ordinary." It’s a one-star day at best. The crowds at Pelican Watch are “often” a problem, so even for a tiny wave, you might have company. Thursday the 9th morning is similar, with a 3-foot south swell and light wind, but it’s a risk t-storm day, which could mess with the smooth surface. Energy picks up a bit (120), but it’s still just ordinary.
The end of the second week gets bigger but not better. Saturday the 11th morning has a 5-foot south-southwest swell with a short period of 7 seconds and moderate energy (343). The wind is cross-off from the west-southwest at 12 mph. That’s expert-only size, but the short, choppy period will make for messy, sectiony waves. Conditions are just “marginal.”
Honestly, there’s no standout session in this whole forecast. The only real option is to pick a morning with light offshore wind and small clean surf, like Wednesday the 8th or Thursday the 9th, but keep your hopes low. If the wind really lays down, you might find a fun little crumbler, but the swell direction (south) isn’t ideal for this spot (which prefers southeast). It’s a beach setup here, so with the stronger, shorter-period south swells later, it might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Nothing solid on the horizon. For a spot that’s usually fairly consistent, it’s a disappointing run, but forecasts can change. We’ll keep an eye on it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Fri 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | ESE 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 46 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 52 | 37 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 47 | 27 | 249 | 176 | 261 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:52PM1.42m | 11:19AM1.08m | 11:30PM1.37m | 12:03PM1.14m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:15AM0.07m | 5:01PM0.13m | 5:50AM0.06m | 5:50PM0.16m | 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 | ||||||||
 | | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
 | 8:25 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 8 | — | — | 7 | 2 | 2 | 13 | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 |
Feels °C | 29 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 32 | 46 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 36 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 19 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | — | — | — | S 3 | — | SE 6 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | ESE 9 | — | — | SSE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | — |
| kJ | 11 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 32 | — | — | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | SSE 7 | E 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 25 | 2 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 2 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 6 | 52 | 37 | 40 | 50 | 51 | 115 | — | 72 | 66 | 47 | 121 | 249 | 176 | 261 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 304 | 54 | 742 | 878 | 1729 | 960 | 1729 | 1237 | 1237 | 54 | 142 | 642 | 351 | 0 | 584 | 17 | 0 | 592 | 527 | 294 | 304 |
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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