Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, SE swell with 145 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. 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 0.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in from the beach. Let's see what Mother Nature's got cookin' for us.
Straight up, this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, quiet run with very little to get excited about. For the next several days, the wave energy is just a whisper. Don't expect much of anything rideable until we hit the second week of September. The first real hint of life doesn't show up until Wednesday, September 2nd, and even then, it's barely a pulse.
The standout in this whole forecast has to be Pelican Watch on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. It’s not much, but it’s the best we get. We're looking at a tiny 2ft swell coming from the ESE, but here’s the thing – the wind is light and offshore out of the WSW, which will keep the surface clean. That's a major positive for such a small wave. The combined swell energy kicks up to a moderate 121, which is the highest we see all period. It's a beach break, and a fairly consistent one, though with this size, it'll be strictly a longboard or funboard session. Crowds are possible, but on a morning like this, they'll be sparse.
After that Wednesday morning, it drops right back off. We get another little blip on Thursday morning, September 3rd with a similar 2ft swell and offshore wind, but the energy is way down at 54. Then things go flat again. You might see a tiny pulse of longer-period swell from the E on Monday morning, September 7th, but it's only 1ft to 1ft and the energy is weak. That sort of long-period swell could offer a cleaner shape, but there's just not enough height to do anything with it at a beach break.
Honestly, the whole sixteen-day window is a wash. It is what it is for this area – a flat spell that just drags on. Don't bother paddling out until at least that Wednesday morning, and even then, keep your expectations on the floor. Forecasts can change, but this one's lookin' pretty stubborn.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 26 | 23 | 37 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 40 | 121 | 102 | 76 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:08PM1.56m | 8:23AM1.34m | 8:43PM1.55m | 9:01AM1.42m | 9:19PM1.52m | 9:40AM1.49m | 9:56PM1.46m | 10:22AM1.55m | 10:36PM1.39m | 11:07AM1.58m | 11:19PM1.30m | 11:57AM1.60m | 00:09AM1.21m | ||||||
Low Tide | 2:18AM0.10m | 2:16PM0.05m | 2:50AM0.06m | 2:58PM0.04m | 3:23AM0.04m | 3:41PM0.05m | 3:57AM0.03m | 4:27PM0.08m | 4:34AM0.03m | 5:18PM0.13m | 5:16AM0.04m | 6:14PM0.18m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — |
 | 7:44 | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 32 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 26 | 23 | 37 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 40 | 121 | 102 | 76 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | E 10 | S 5 | — | E 9 | E 15 | SE 14 | SE 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 9 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 7 | 37 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | ESE 5 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 28 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | ENE 3 | E 3 | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 |
| kJ | 23 | 23 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 321 | 3 | 54 | 54 | 129 | 243 | 923 | 129 | 278 | 769 | 282 | 1670 | 1237 | 1237 | 956 | 54 | 0 | 278 | 54 |
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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