Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, E swell with 106 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 cross-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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (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 | 8PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let's cut to the chase: the surf outlook is bleak for the next couple of weeks. We've got a long stretch of flat, poor conditions, and no solid recommendations at all. It's going to be a test of patience.
Our first glimmer of size shows up around the 19th of September, maybe a 5ft swell with moderate energy, around 250. But it's got a cross-onshore wind that's going to ruin it. That's more of a kite-surfing setup if you ask me.
The real energy arrives on the 22nd and 23rd of September. We're looking at swell heights around 7ft and 6ft with strong energy values in the 600s and 700s. The 22nd is a mess with fresh cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. The morning of the 23rd has a near gale-force offshore wind, which cleans it up but makes it impossible. The afternoon of the 23rd might be the only chance at a wave: a 5ft swell with a moderate offshore breeze. It's still a marginal call, so don't expect perfection.
The swell fades by the 24th and it's back to small and weak. The 25th has some clean, tiny surf with an offshore wind, but it's a shadow of the bigger stuff.
All in all, there is no standout session here. The cleanest options are still marginal and the decent-sized swell is let down by wind. It looks like we're in for a long, dry spell.
This is Rusty, keeping it real. See you out there when it turns on.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 6 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 31 | 25 | 24 | 35 | 39 | 43 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 95 | 55 | 45 | 103 | 33 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:24 | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — |
mm | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 15 | ESE 8 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 15 | 31 | 25 | 24 | 35 | 39 | 43 | 19 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 4 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 4 | E 8 | — | S 4 | — | — | SE 10 | E 6 | E 6 | S 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | E 14 | SE 14 | — | SE 13 |
| kJ | 11 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 45 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | NE 6 | E 15 | E 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | ESE 4 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 6 | E 5 |
| kJ | 7 | — | 6 | 5 | — | 10 | 40 | — | 27 | 17 | — | — | 17 | 31 | 95 | 55 | 45 | 103 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 548 | 352 | 282 | 642 | 282 | 532 | 1232 | 3 | 0 | 352 | 3 | 54 | 742 | 575 | 1573 | 2033 | 110 | 73 | 138 |
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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