Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, SE swell with 123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period with ESE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s is also forecast. 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 0.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM. 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s cut through the noise. For the next week and a half, the surf is pretty much dead. Tiny, weak, and depressing. Energy levels are stuck in the 20s and 30s, with a few bumps into the 50s. It’s a rough stretch.
Pelican Watch is the only break in the game. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, open to the SE. From Wednesday the 26th of August through the end of the month, the swell is stuck at a miserable 1.0 ft to 1 ft, from the ESE, with a short period of 8 to 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak, mostly 30 to 40 (combined energy of all swells directed here 30). There are some clean moments with offshore or cross-off winds, and even a couple of glassy mornings on the 29th and 30th, but the swell is just too small to surf. The water is about 84°F, with a 1°F warmer anomaly, so it’s about average for the season.
The first real sign of life is on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning shows a bump to 2 ft from the SE, with the period stretching to 11 seconds and the combined energy hitting 121 (combined energy of all swells directed here 121). The wind is a clean offshore from the WSW. That’s the best of the whole forecast, but it’s still a small, “surfable” wave. It’s a little groundswell with some push, but nothing special.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums until the 9th of September. On the morning of the 9th, we get a messy pulse: 4 ft from the S, but with a short, wind-driven period of just 6 seconds. The combined energy hits 138 (combined energy of all swells directed here 138), which is moderate, but the short period means it’ll be rough and unorganized. The afternoon drops to 3 ft. It’s still clean with cross-off winds, but it’s poor quality.
The rest of the 16-day window is just more tiny, weak surf or all-day onshore junk. There’s a nearly 7-day gap from the 2nd of September to the 9th of September where there’s nothing worth a second look. The only real standout is that Wednesday the 2nd of September morning session at Pelican Watch – it’s the cleanest, most energetic wave of the whole forecast, but it’s still a small wave. If you’re a beginner and you’re really jonesing, that’s your shot. Otherwise, it’s a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 17 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 38 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:45AM1.26m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:46AM0.15m | 1:36PM0.07m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | 13 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 22 | 11 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 5 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSW 4 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 15 | ESE 13 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 5 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 38 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 8 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | SW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | S 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 13 | 16 | 33 | 15 | 5 | 24 | 16 | — | 11 | 7 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 519 | 54 | 978 | 0 | 294 | 142 | 54 | 54 | 253 | 54 | 129 | 2333 | 1205 | 923 | 1244 | 1160 | 282 | 1144 | 288 |
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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