Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
27.6°C
0.2° 

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 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 46 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 0.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 13th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 13th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 13th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab a coffee, ‘cause we’ve got a long dry spell ahead. Pelican Watch is looking pretty flat and messy for the foreseeable future. There’s a big gap with nothing on offer, and that’s just the way it is for now.

The first tiny glimpse of a wave isn't until the morning of Sunday, September 13th. We’re talking about a 0.5 ft SSE swell with a 10-second period and light cross-off winds. It’s weak and uninspiring, with a combined energy of only 65. It might get you a couple of grovelly rides, but it’s barely worth the walk down. After that, it’s back to the flatness.

From the 10th through the 18th, we're looking at a serious run of tiny, poor surf. The heights stay around 0.5 ft to 1 ft, and there’s just no power. We’re seeing a lot of onshore or cross-off winds, but it doesn’t even matter because there’s nothing to push. It’s a complete drought until that little pulse. The ENE swell that arrives on the 19th is short-period and junky, not really offering any quality.

Now, for the one glimmer of hope, we have to look all the way out to the morning of Tuesday, September 24th. The long-range models are showing a significant 12 ft E groundswell, with a strong 10-second period and a massive combined energy of 2124. The wind is forecast to be clean and cross-off from the NNW, and in the afternoon, it goes totally glassy. It’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not certain.

But here’s the catch, and it’s a big one. That size of swell is simply too big for Pelican Watch. The forecast itself notes that it's predicted to be too big for this break. At 3.5m, this is not a beginner wave and it will be a heavy, expert-only affair. The swell will be wrapping in, but it could be a lot to handle. Before that, on the 23rd, the swell is still big but the winds are messier. The 25th looks like the swell drops back down but the wind turns south and ruins it.

Basically, we have a solid 13-day stretch with nothing but flat, tiny, and poor conditions. Then we get one forecasted bomb that might be too much of a good thing. The water temp is a warm 28°, which is about average for the season, so you won’t be freezing for those long waits between sets. From the 19th to the 22nd, with that fresh onshore wind and building ENE swell, it’s going to be a choppy, lumpy mess—more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

Keep your board in the car, but don't hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but this is a lean stretch.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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
6
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.7
E
5
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
27
16
17
31
25
19
36
39
43
45
41
39
37
30
38
37
18
25
20
14
12
Wind (km/h)
5
S
20
SSW
15
SW
10
WSW
20
SSW
15
WSW
10
SSW
20
SSW
15
WSW
15
SW
20
SW
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
SSW
5
NE
15
ENE
15
E
10
E
10
E
10
ESE
5
SE
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
7:57PM1.68m
8:18AM1.59m
8:41PM1.62m
9:03AM1.64m
9:23PM1.53m
9:47AM1.65m
10:04PM1.43m
10:30AM1.62m
10:45PM1.31m
11:13AM1.56m
11:27PM1.20m
11:59AM1.50m
00:12AM1.10m
Low Tide
1:30PM-0.05m
2:03AM-0.01m
2:21PM-0.05m
2:43AM-0.01m
3:09PM-0.01m
3:21AM0.01m
3:55PM0.05m
3:59AM0.06m
4:42PM0.13m
4:37AM0.12m
5:30PM0.22m
5:16AM0.20m
6:21PM0.30m
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:24
7:23
7:22
7:21
7:20
7:17
7:16
 mm
2
3
1
1
3
2
1
1
19
3
Temp °C
28
29
27
28
30
28
29
30
28
29
30
28
29
31
28
28
28
27
27
28
27
Feels °C
32
30
29
31
31
30
32
31
30
31
31
30
32
32
30
31
30
30
30
30
31
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Pelican Watch:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Pelican Watch surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest