Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, E swell with 273 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Honestly, Pelican Watch is looking like a flat spell for the next 16 days. The whole run has got "poor surf conditions" stamped all over it. We’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead.
Thursday the 3rd is a write-off. Tiny 2ft of SE swell with cross-on wind – messy, no energy, not worth paddling out. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are cleaner with that cross-off wind, but the swell drops to 1ft and then 1ft. The combined energy is just 37 and then 19 – that’s barely a ripple. There’s just no push.
Sunday the 6th, we see a weird little spike – 4ft of short-period ENE swell shows up in the afternoon, but it’s direct onshore and choppy. Monday the 7th has the biggest numbers of the whole period at 5ft, with combined energy hitting 147. That’s moderate energy, but it’s coming from the ENE with onshore or cross-on wind. It’ll be bumpy and messy; not a clean wave.
From the 8th onward, it’s back to tiny, weak swell. The rest of the week and into the second week (from the 10th to the 18th of September) is mostly sub-2ft, with combined energy often under 60. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is about average for this time of year.
There is no standout session in this window. The swell is just too small, too weak, or blown out. For a beginner spot like this, it might be a chance to practice pop-ups on a foamie in the cleanest moments, but don't expect any real rides.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 65 | 64 | 34 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 8 | 82 | 97 | 145 | 139 | 273 | 111 | 58 | 33 | 19 | 21 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:55PM1.60m | 1:06AM1.14m | 2:00PM1.60m | 2:13AM1.10m | 3:10PM1.61m | 3:27AM1.12m | 4:20PM1.64m | 4:38AM1.18m | 5:23PM1.68m | 5:42AM1.29m | 6:19PM1.70m | 6:39AM1.41m | 7:10PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:17PM0.23m | 7:02AM0.09m | 8:28PM0.26m | 8:08AM0.10m | 9:41PM0.25m | 9:21AM0.09m | 10:47PM0.21m | 10:32AM0.05m | 11:44PM0.14m | 11:37AM0.00m | 00:35AM0.08m | 12:36PM-0.04m | 1:20AM0.02m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 65 | 64 | 34 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | 111 | 58 | 33 | 19 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | E 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | S 7 | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | S 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | 11 | 17 | 35 | — | 4 | 82 | 97 | 145 | 139 | 273 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 140 | 529 | 527 | 1155 | 304 | 1205 | 604 | 110 | 837 | 793 | 140 | 538 | 140 | 30 | 23 | 140 | 253 | 253 | 2540 | 623 |
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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