Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.0° C
0.1° 

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 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with 76 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 5s. 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 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 (Aug 23) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 18th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 18th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get real about the surf. First things first, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for waves. There’s a whole lot of small, weak swell on the menu, and it’s going to take a while before anything with real push shows up.

We’re looking at Pelican Watch, and the water’s sitting at 82°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year. Nothing weird going on there, just your typical tropical warmth.

The first few days, from Tuesday the 18th through to the 27th, are dominated by tiny, weak surf. We're talking chest-to-waist high at the very best, but really, it's mostly knee-slappers. The energy is really low, with values often in the 20s and 30s. The swell direction is mostly SE, but it doesn't matter when it's this small. There is a period around the 22nd and 23rd where the swell bumps up slightly with a south swell, but it's short-period, rough, and stormy-looking. Not worth your time.

The one morning that looks a little interesting in this stretch is Saturday the 22nd. It's still small at 2ft, but the wind is offshore and the conditions are clean. It’s surfable, but you won't be getting any glory. It's more of a "get wet and enjoy the peace" kind of session than a "charge" session. The long gap of poor surf is really the story here.

Now, let's talk about Friday morning, the 28th of August. This is the standout, and it's a full eight days out. There's a pulse of SSW swell pushing the wave height up to 4ft. The energy jumps way up to 238, which is a significant jump from the weak stuff we've been seeing. The period is a short 6 seconds, which will make it a bit lumpy, but the wind is light and offshore from the SSW. That's a recipe for clean, if a bit junky, waves. This is your best bet.

It’s not huge, but it’s a solid, clean, rideable size for the average surfer, and it’s the only real punch of energy in the whole window. This is the one to keep an eye on, but remember, it's a week out, so don't book the day off work just yet. The rest of that weekend and into September reverts back to the small, weak junk.

Honestly, if you're desperate for a paddle, the morning of the 22nd or the morning of the 30th with the glassy conditions might be your only other options, but the waves will be scarce. For the most part, you're better off waiting for that Friday the 28th.

This is Rusty, signing off. It's gonna be a waiting game.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sun morning).

Tue
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
11
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.7
S
4
0.7
S
5
0.7
S
5
0.8
S
6
0.9
S
6
0.9
S
6
1
S
6
0.4
SE
12
0.6
S
6
0.3
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
75
48
42
40
30
18
17
17
13
13
19
20
24
38
52
53
76
35
24
15
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
5
W
15
E
15
SSE
10
SSW
15
SSW
25
SSW
10
SSE
10
ESE
20
S
5
ESE
15
SSW
20
SSW
25
SSW
30
SW
25
SSW
10
W
5
NE
15
S
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
00:51AM1.11m
1:37PM1.38m
1:43AM1.01m
2:35PM1.35m
2:42AM0.95m
3:36PM1.34m
3:45AM0.93m
4:35PM1.36m
4:45AM0.96m
5:28PM1.40m
5:38AM1.01m
6:14PM1.45m
Low Tide
6:57PM0.24m
6:47AM0.16m
7:58PM0.31m
7:36AM0.22m
9:04PM0.36m
8:31AM0.25m
10:09PM0.37m
9:31AM0.26m
11:06PM0.34m
10:29AM0.23m
11:54PM0.30m
11:22AM0.19m
00:36AM0.26m
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:54
7:53
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:49
7:47
 mm
1
1
3
6
2
3
12
2
8
3
Temp °C
34
31
29
31
30
31
33
29
30
30
27
30
31
28
26
28
27
25
28
28
Feels °C
35
34
31
35
35
34
35
32
35
33
30
32
31
29
24
28
26
27
30
30
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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