Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, SSW swell with 260 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with SE 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period. 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) 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 1.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook is a bit of a tough one. We’re looking at a solid stretch of small, messy conditions for most of the next 16 days, with only a one-day window that looks like it could actually get you out of the wetsuit and into something fun.
The first recommendation for a surf doesn't come until Thursday, 29th of July. So from now until then, it’s a real lull. You’re looking at a 6-day gap of nothing but knee-high slop and ordinary conditions. The wind’s all over the place, and the swell energy is weak, barely cracking 50 (23) most of the time. It’s a classic waiting game.
Then, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 29th July, things finally perk up. The real standout is Pelican Watch. The combined energy of all swells picks up to a moderate 210, and we’re seeing a 3ft swell from the SSE, with a period of 8 seconds. That’s not a groundswell, but it’s enough to get a bit of shape. The wind goes light offshore, glassing it up a touch. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is the best we’ve got. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no shocker there. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but watch out – crowds are often an issue here, so get in early.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Thursday the 30th still has a glassy morning with 2ft surf, but it’s a short-period SE windswell that’s just surfable, nothing special. From Friday the 31st onward, it’s a downhill slide. The wind swings onshore or cross-shore, and the swell energy drops right back into the weak range (below 100). The second week looks bleak – a run of poor conditions with onshore winds and minimal swell. By the first week of August, the swell tries to push 6ft on Saturday the 1st, but it’s a messy, short-period windswell with cross-onshore wind. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.
So, bottom line: if you’ve got the itch, pencil in the afternoon of the 29th of July at Pelican Watch. Everything else is a write-off or a gamble.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 45 | 37 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 47 | 33 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 18 | 260 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:34AM1.02m | 8:03PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:16PM0.06m | 2:25AM0.12m | ||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 8:20 | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 10 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — |
| kJ | 33 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 45 | 37 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 47 | 33 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 18 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | ENE 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | NE 6 | SE 10 | E 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | NE 6 | — | E 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | — | — | SSW 4 | NNE 3 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | S 3 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 74 | 69 | 36 | 50 | 22 | 21 | — | — | 6 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | 5 | 61 | 72 | 122 | 260 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 351 | 304 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 138 | 54 | 54 | 140 | 0 | 304 | 304 | 142 | 352 | 304 | 351 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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