Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, ESE swell with 72 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pelican Watch this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Truth be told, if you’re hanging your hopes on a proper surf, you might be left staring at flat lines for a while. We’ve got a full 16-day window ahead, but there’s nearly a week of nothing really worth paddling out for right from the get-go. The first decent suggestion doesn't show up until Sunday the 19th of July, and even then, it’s not exactly lighting it up.
Pelican Watch is the only break in the game here, and it’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent spot. The water temp is sitting at about 84°F, which is around 1°F warmer than average for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just your typical warm tropical bath.
For the first week, from Sunday the 12th through to Saturday the 18th, the swell is tiny and the wind is all over the shop. You’ve got cross-on breezes and onshore slop keeping things messy. The combined wave energy is weak, often sitting between 14 and 72 (weak energy), so there’s just no push. These are days to save the gas.
The first real standout of the whole outlook lands Sunday the 19th of July into Monday the 20th. On Sunday morning, expect a small 4ft swell from the ESE with a short period of just 5 seconds. The combined energy pushes up to 73 (weak energy), and while that’s not huge, the wind is a light cross-on, so it’ll be rideable but a bit bumpy. The better call is Monday the 20th. The swell drops a touch to 3ft from the ESE, but the wind shifts cross-off from the SSW – that means clean, smooth faces. The combined energy is 45 (weak energy) but the quality of the wave will be way better. Crowds are likely here, so get in early.
After that, from Tuesday the 21st through to the end of the run, it’s back to tiny surf again. We see a few clean mornings with cross-off winds, but the swell never gets above 3ft. It’s a long stretch of knee-to-waist high dribble. Even towards the very end on Sunday the 26th of July, you get glassy conditions in the afternoon with zero wind, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft from the SE – more of a lake paddle than a surf.
So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, the best chance for a halfway decent wave is Monday the 20th of July at Pelican Watch. Clean, cross-off winds, and a bit of ESE energy. That’s your pick. Everything else is either flat or too choppy to bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 45 | 31 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 42 | 30 | 44 | 64 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:44PM1.80m | 6:59AM1.15m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:11AM-0.04m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 |
 | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | 8:21 |
mm | — | 15 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 33 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 45 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 27 | — | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | E 8 | ENE 7 | SSW 5 | — | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — | E 13 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | NE 3 | ENE 3 | NE 2 | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | ENE 7 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 21 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 45 | 4 | 6 | 37 | 42 | 30 | 44 | 64 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1707 | 82 | 110 | 110 | 22 | 489 | 519 | 54 | 129 | 729 | 630 | 842 | 742 | 923 | 110 | 837 | 219 | 837 | 2336 | 809 | 913 |
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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