Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, S swell with 459 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 3s is also forecast. 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 2.0m 8s 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 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Pelican Watch has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead. We’ve got a long gap of tiny, junk surf to start with, so don’t bother paddling out until we get to the end of the first week. The first real chance of anything rideable shows up on Monday the 20th, but even then it’s nothing to write home about.
The standout (if you can call it that) will be Monday morning, 20th July. We’re looking at a small southerly swell rolling in at about 3 ft. The real kicker here is the wind – it’s glassy out of the ENE at just 3 mph, so the surface will be absolutely clean. Combined swell energy is moderate at 109. The water temperature is sitting at 83°F, which is right about average for this time of year. The waves are going to be weak with a short period of 7 seconds, making it a marginal day best for beginners and longboarders. After lunch, it gets a bit sketchy with a cross-off wind, so grab that early session.
Looking further out, Sunday the 19th sees a jump in size – southerly swell building to 7 ft by the afternoon. That’s a lot of power with combined energy at 459, but it’s paired with a fresh cross-off breeze at 18 mph. The short 8-second period will keep things a bit lumpy. This is one for experienced surfers only, and with that wind it might be more of a kite-surfing show.
For the rest of the week into the second week, it’s mostly back to tiny, onshore slop in the 1 ft to 2 ft range with onshore winds. Not much to get excited about. The pattern might shift in the second week with a few cleaner cross-off days, but the swell stays small and short period.
All in all, keep your expectations low and your eyes on Monday morning. If you’re flexible, it’s the only window with genuinely clean conditions and something to ride.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 181 | 287 | 459 | 340 | 100 | 128 | 120 | 109 | 284 | 208 | 56 | 114 | 43 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:47AM1.33m | 10:15PM1.71m | 10:41AM1.36m | 11:04PM1.59m | 11:36AM1.37m | 11:52PM1.44m | 12:31PM1.36m | 00:41AM1.29m | 1:26PM1.35m | 1:32AM1.14m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:26AM1.03m | 3:20PM1.34m | 3:23AM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:50AM-0.00m | 7:31PM0.18m | 7:37AM0.06m | 8:36PM0.25m | 8:25AM0.11m | 9:42PM0.28m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — | SE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 16 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | 212 | 100 | 72 | — | — | — | 15 | 56 | 57 | 38 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | E 12 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 41 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | NE 4 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | SSW 7 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 181 | 287 | 459 | 340 | 3 | 128 | 120 | 109 | 284 | 208 | — | 114 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 842 | 1573 | 1573 | 1573 | 800 | 1580 | 578 | 1670 | 352 | 304 | 22 | 0 | 575 | 304 | 532 | 562 | 54 | 42 | 23 | 110 |
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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