Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
27.3°C
0.1° 

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 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, ENE swell with 205 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 14th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 14th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 5AM (Tue 15th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. The outlook for Pelican Watch across the next 16 days is about as flat as a pancake. We’ve got a big ol’ gap of zero action stretching from now all the way through to the end.

Water temp’s at 81° – dead average for the time of year. But that’s the only thing that’s normal around here.

Starting off this Friday, September 11th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell coming out of the southeast, with a cross-off breeze. The water’s clean, but the energy is a weak 26. That sets the tone. Saturday and Sunday offer the same 2ft, with the period stretching into the 9–10 second range, but the cross-off wind keeps it from being a total washout. Still, with energy in the 30s, you’re looking at knee-high dribble.

Monday the 14th starts glassy – dead calm with a morning wind from the NNW at just 3 mph. That’s the best wind we see, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft from the ESE. Not enough to even knock a crab off a rock.

Tuesday the 15th brings a jump in combined energy to 143 (moderate), with 4ft from the ENE. But it’s a gutless 6-second period, and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore creating chop. This pattern of lumpy, choppy, or onshore wind sticks around for days. The swell hangs in the 3–4ft range through Thursday the 17th, but it’s always cursed with either short periods or messy wind.

Monday, September 21st offers a light cross-shore breeze with 5ft of ENE groundswell – moderate energy at 184. But the period is just 6 seconds, so it’s going to be a fat, gutless mess. Finally, on Tuesday the 22nd, we get a clean cross-off wind from the NNW – a real rarity. Swell sits at 5–5ft from the east with moderate energy. But it’s still poor surf conditions, and that 7-second period means it’s not going to hold a face.

The rest of the run into Saturday the 26th shows the combined energy climbing into the 200s, even hitting 297 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. But it’s all onshore or cross-onshore with fresh breezes and that lousy 8–9 second period. There are a couple of clean windows, but the "poor surf" label never leaves.

Honestly, Pelican Watch can pump with the right wind, but this forecast is a total bust. The swell and winds just never line up. For the whole 16-day run, there isn’t a single standout. If you’re dying to get wet, the kite gear might be the only way to use some of that bigger, wind-hacked swell. For a surfer with a paddle? Nothing doin’.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Fri
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
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
1
0
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)
0.5
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
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
1.6
ENE
6
1.3
ENE
6
1.1
E
6
1.4
ENE
6
1.1
E
6
1.1
E
6
1
E
6
1
E
8
0.9
E
7
0.7
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
25
19
36
39
42
45
41
39
30
30
159
139
72
118
88
80
64
132
81
45
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
15
SW
10
SSW
20
SSW
15
SW
20
SW
15
SW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
S
25
ENE
20
NE
20
E
15
NE
20
NE
20
ENE
25
NNE
20
NE
15
E
5
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
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
12:50PM1.43m
1:03AM1.03m
Low Tide
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
5:59AM0.26m
7:18PM0.37m
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:54
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:23
7:22
7:21
7:20
7:17
7:16
7:15
 mm
1
2
1
4
1
2
7
2
1
Temp °C
30
28
28
29
27
29
30
28
29
32
29
23
25
25
21
26
25
25
27
26
Feels °C
32
31
31
30
29
30
30
31
33
35
32
20
22
23
18
24
22
25
28
28
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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