Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, ENE swell with 237 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s. 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
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 the table.
Honestly, it’s a grim start. For the first week and a half, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The energy coming in is weak, mostly under 100, and the swell is tiny. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are a write-off – small, messy, and cross-onshore or choppy. That pattern holds through the weekend and most of the following week. Monday the 7th sees a little bump in size with 3ft to 5ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is onshore and the period is short, so it’s just raw, lumpy conditions. That combined energy hits 173 on the Monday afternoon, but it’s not surfable.
You’ve got to wait until Monday the 14th of September for anything that gets the blood going. That morning at Pelican Watch, things finally line up. The swell comes in at 4ft from the ESE, with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SW. The combined energy jumps to 231, and the wave comment says it straight – expect good surf conditions. That’s the standout. It’s a beginner-friendly break, and while it can get crowded often, the wind will be keeping it clean, so it’s worth an early paddle.
The Monday afternoon drops a little in size to 3ft, but the energy stays strong at 238. The conditions are still clean, just a bit less punch.
After that, Tuesday the 15th fades back to small, cross-shore slop, and the rest of the week looks poor again. There’s nothing else in the 16-day window that’s worth chasing. That Monday morning is your one real shot. The crowd factor is something to keep in mind because it’s often busy, but the offshore wind will thin the pack a little.
Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird.
So, if you’ve got a window, point the car at Pelican Watch on Monday the 14th. That’s the call.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat night, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 103 | 65 | 64 | 43 | 42 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 7 | 31 | 59 | 65 | 173 | 161 | 104 | 64 | 39 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:09AM1.21m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:05AM0.06m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 7:36 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 11 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 103 | 65 | 64 | 43 | 42 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 7 | — | 16 | 7 | 10 | 39 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | SE 8 | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | — | S 6 | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | NE 3 | ENE 5 | E 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 12 | — | 7 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 22 | 5 | 31 | 59 | 65 | 173 | 161 | 104 | 64 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 140 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 1155 | 110 | 282 | 1586 | 129 | 837 | 812 | 605 | 630 | 140 | 23 | 30 | 140 | 54 |
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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