Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period, SE swell with 166 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 0.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Pelican Watch has cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet start. The first few days have a little bit of swell, but nothing that’s gonna get the heart pumping. The first real chance to get wet is on Wednesday, September 2nd, in the morning. We’ve got a small 3 ft swell from the southeast with a 10-second period, and the wind is cross-offshore from the SSW at just 3 mph. The water is a warm 82°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The wave energy is moderate (154), but the conditions are clean. It’s surfable, but only just. A beginner might find a couple of fun ones, but it’s ordinary.
From Thursday, the 3rd, right through until the 14th, the swell drops right off and the wind is all over the place. We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly under 2 ft, with weak energy readings (often below 50). The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, but there’s just no power in the water. It’s a long stretch of flat-to-poor conditions. Don’t bother getting the wetsuit out for that.
Then, on Tuesday, September 15th, the forecast throws a bit of a curveball. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the ENE, but it’s a short period windswell of only 6 seconds. The wave energy is moderate (135), but the wind is a light cross-shore from the north. The conditions are listed as poor, with a risk of thunderstorms. The short period and poor conditions mean it’s likely to be a messy, choppy mess. Not one for the log.
The best bet in the whole 16-day window? That’s a tough call. There’s no standout. If you’re desperate, that Wednesday morning, September 2nd, is the cleanest and most surfable, even if it’s small. The long period (10 seconds) on that tiny swell might give it a little bit of shape, but don’t expect much.
So, for the best of a bad bunch, I’d point you to Pelican Watch on the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd. It’s a 3 ft swell from the southeast, with a clean cross-offshore wind. It’s not gonna be a classic, but it’s the only window where the conditions are even close to friendly.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 150 | 154 | 100 | 88 | 65 | 53 | 34 | 33 | 26 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:19PM1.30m | 11:57AM1.60m | 00:09AM1.21m | 12:55PM1.60m | 1:06AM1.14m | 2:00PM1.60m | 2:13AM1.10m | 3:10PM1.61m | 3:27AM1.12m | 4:20PM1.64m | 4:38AM1.18m | 5:23PM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:18PM0.13m | 5:16AM0.04m | 6:14PM0.18m | 6:05AM0.06m | 7:17PM0.23m | 7:02AM0.09m | 8:28PM0.26m | 8:08AM0.10m | 9:41PM0.25m | 9:21AM0.09m | 10:47PM0.21m | 10:32AM0.05m | 11:44PM0.14m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 25 | 150 | 154 | 100 | 88 | 65 | 53 | 34 | 33 | 26 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | E 6 | — | SSE 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | — | E 12 | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 2 | S 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 26 | 12 | 28 | 62 | — | 3 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 956 | 0 | 0 | 956 | 0 | 0 | 489 | 54 | 54 | 527 | 54 | 54 | 129 | 59 | 974 | 842 | 1104 | 974 | 634 | 1050 |
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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