Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SW swell with 132 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with SSE 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this straight.
Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, the surf is going to be a real struggle for a while. There’s a long flat spell on the cards. We’re talking about a stretch with pretty much nothing rideable until around the 18th. Don’t get your hopes up for this weekend or the first part of next week – it’s looking small and messy.
The only real window of opportunity, and even then it’s marginal, starts on Monday the 18th of August. That’s when we finally see a pulse of energy (moderate wave energy, 103) and conditions that are at least surfable, even if they’re ordinary. It’s not going to be a classic, but it might be your only chance to get wet.
The standout, if you can call it that, looks like Wednesday afternoon the 19th. The wind dies off completely, going glassy. The swell is still pretty weak, but there’s a bump in energy (157) and the period stretches out to 13 seconds. That’s a bit of a groundswell push. It’s a long period, so at a beach break like Pelican Watch (Big Island) – it’s the only spot in the mix – it might be a little too straight, but the glassy conditions will make it look a million times better than anything we’ve seen. This is your best bet for a clean-ish wave.
Thursday morning the 20th also offers a small, clean window with a light offshore wind, but the swell is still tiny.
Honestly, the water temp is about average for this time of year, so a thin wetsuit is fine.
For the rest of the period, it’s mostly poor, onshore slop. There’s a bit of a longer-period swell showing for the 19th, but it fades fast. The end of the period shows a little more energy on the 24th, but the wind is going to be messy and the period is short, so it’s not looking worth the paddle.
It’s a bleak run, but that’s the call. Hang tight, and if you’re desperate, be on the beach for that glassy window on the 19th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 7 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 67 | 54 | 33 | 38 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 29 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 8 | 101 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:42AM1.08m | 5:33PM1.71m | 5:48AM1.15m | 6:33PM1.76m | 6:48AM1.25m | 7:27PM1.79m | 7:44AM1.34m | 8:17PM1.78m | 8:37AM1.43m | 9:05PM1.73m | 9:27AM1.48m | 9:50PM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:59PM0.15m | 10:34AM-0.05m | 00:01AM0.09m | 11:40AM-0.10m | 00:55AM0.02m | 12:41PM-0.15m | 1:45AM-0.03m | 1:38PM-0.16m | 2:32AM-0.08m | 2:32PM-0.15m | 3:16AM-0.09m | 3:25PM-0.11m | 3:59AM-0.08m | ||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 8:06 | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 67 | 54 | 33 | 38 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 29 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 8 | 66 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | E 13 | ENE 3 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | — | — | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | E 12 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | — | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | — | SSW 3 | — | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 23 | — | 3 | — | 4 | 13 | 17 | 38 | 42 | 28 | 17 | 48 | 60 | — | 47 | 74 | — | 55 | 101 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 729 | 531 | 529 | 527 | 99 | 22 | 866 | 54 | 54 | 547 | 59 | 99 | 22 | 17 | 110 | 22 | 0 |
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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