Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.4° C
0.3° 

Pelican Watch surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 19th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 7s
Best Surf11PM (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 Forecast

Light 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 Summary

Moderate 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.8
E
5
0.8
E
5
0.9
E
6
0.8
E
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.5
S
5
0.5
S
5
0.8
S
6
1.2
S
6
1.8
S
7
1.4
S
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
15
E
15
ESE
10
ENE
10
E
15
E
5
E
10
E
10
SSE
10
SW
10
SSW
20
SSW
15
WSW
10
SW
20
SSW
5
N
5
SSW
15
S
20
SW
15
SW
30
SSW
15
SW
Wind State
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
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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