Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.5°C
0.5° 

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 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period, SE swell with 137 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. 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 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Tue 1st Sep)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Tue 1st Sep)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Most Powerful 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you: the next couple of weeks are a flat, frustrating stretch for surf around here. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead, with barely a wave worth paddling out for. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, 2nd September, so you’re looking at a few days of nothing before that.

Pelican Watch is the only spot in the mix, and it’s a beginner-friendly break, exposed to the south-east. For this time of year, the water temp is about average, nothing unusual.

Let’s walk through it. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August are a write-off – tiny 1ft swell from the ESE, weak energy, and onshore or cross-onshore breezes. Poor surf, no two ways about it.

Monday the 31st is a tease. The swell stays small at 2ft from the ESE with a short period of 8 seconds, and the morning goes glassy – dead calm, perfect conditions for a clean face. But the combined energy is still weak, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions.” It’s flat, mate. You could probably get a knee-high ripple if you’re desperate.

Tuesday the 1st of September stays small and clean in the mornings with light offshore winds, but still 2ft and short period (7 seconds). Not enough juice.

Now here’s the one glimmer – Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. Swell picks up to 2ft from the SE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits 110 – moderate wave energy, finally some push. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and it scores a 1 out of 10. That’s the pick of the whole 16-day window, but honestly, for a beginner break, you’re looking at waist-high at best. Not a standout, just the least poor.

From Wednesday afternoon through to the end of the first week, it drops back to tiny, messy, or onshore. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are 2-2ft with weak energy and cross-off winds – clean but too small.

The second week is even more bleak. Saturday the 6th of September has a brief bump of 3ft from the SSW but with a period of just 6 seconds and poor energy. Monday the 8th shows 4ft from the SSW but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, with the wave comment still “poor surf conditions.” The 9th and 10th have some 3-5ft swell from the south but again onshore and choppy, with moderate energy – ruined by wind.

Friday the 11th of September morning gives us a clean, small 2ft from the south with light cross-offshore wind, and the wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the second half’s only flicker.

So, overall: not much to get excited about. If you’re a beginner and just want a clean, small wave to practise on, Wednesday morning the 2nd is your best bet. Otherwise, leave the board in the car. The ocean’s taking a nap.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
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
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
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)
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.6
ESE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.7
SE
12
0.7
SE
10
0.7
SE
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
27
26
26
17
17
18
26
40
45
36
25
25
137
110
100
58
54
39
27
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
10
NNE
10
ENE
5
ESE
10
ENE
10
SE
10
S
5
N
15
S
10
WSW
5
SW
20
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
20
SSW
20
SW
15
SW
20
SW
25
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
11:57AM1.60m
00:09AM1.21m
12:55PM1.60m
1:06AM1.14m
Low Tide
2:50AM0.06m
2:58PM0.04m
3:23AM0.04m
3:41PM0.05m
3:57AM0.03m
4:27PM0.08m
4:34AM0.03m
5:18PM0.13m
5:16AM0.04m
6:14PM0.18m
6:05AM0.06m
7:17PM0.23m
thunderstorm
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:43
7:40
7:39
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
 mm
5
2
3
7
1
3
1
Temp °C
27
24
24
26
27
28
27
28
30
28
29
31
28
29
32
28
30
31
28
Feels °C
30
27
27
30
30
31
30
33
32
31
32
32
30
32
33
30
31
31
30
  • 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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