Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSW swell with 101 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s be straight with you: this is a pretty quiet stretch for Pelican Watch. The water's sitting at 84°, which is close to the long-term average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Looking at the whole 16-day run, there’s nothing that really jumps out as a standout session. Most of the time, the swell is tiny—hovering around 0.7ft to 2ft—with short-period energy that barely gets the board moving. The combined energy figures are all in the double digits, mostly between 18 and 70, which is weak and uninspiring. The only real glimmer comes on the morning of Friday, August 28, and into the morning of Saturday, August 29. On Friday morning, we’ve got a 2ft, 9-second ESE swell with a light offshore wind from the west—clean conditions. Then Saturday morning, the swell is still 2ft, but the period drops to 8 seconds, and the wind goes glassy, which is about as good as it gets for this setup. The waves are small, but they’ll be clean and rideable for a beginner. The rest of the time? It’s either choppy, onshore, or just too weak to bother with. There’s a gap of several days from late August into early September with no real recommendations, and the swell just doesn’t have the juice.
Honestly, this is a period for the longboard or a paddleboard, not a shortboard. If you’re an absolute beginner looking for a gentle, clean session, the morning of Saturday, August 29, is your best bet—2ft, glassy, easy. But don’t expect much.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 32 | 33 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 37 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:36PM1.34m | 3:45AM0.93m | 4:35PM1.36m | 4:45AM0.96m | 5:28PM1.40m | 5:38AM1.01m | 6:14PM1.45m | 6:24AM1.09m | 6:55PM1.50m | 7:06AM1.17m | 7:32PM1.54m | 7:45AM1.26m | 8:08PM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:09PM0.37m | 9:31AM0.26m | 11:06PM0.34m | 10:29AM0.23m | 11:54PM0.30m | 11:22AM0.19m | 00:36AM0.26m | 12:10PM0.15m | 1:12AM0.20m | 12:54PM0.10m | 1:46AM0.15m | 1:36PM0.07m | 2:18AM0.10m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 31 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 11 | SSW 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 5 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 32 | 33 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 13 | 28 | 28 | 11 | 22 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | E 8 | SE 11 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 16 | SE 9 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | E 7 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | E 7 | — | — | — | E 7 | E 15 | E 14 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 15 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 4 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 52 | 88 | 72 | — | — | — | 8 | 13 | 43 | 32 | — | 6 | — | 13 | 44 | 98 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 821 | 243 | 0 | 960 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 54 | 278 | 527 | 22 | 243 | 22 | 138 | 1230 | 1230 | 0 | 956 | 19 |
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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