Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, SE swell with 79 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with S 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 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s 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 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the outlook for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days is pretty grim. There’s no real surf to speak of, and the few tiny bumps that show up are barely worth a look. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The first real chance of anything rideable comes on Wednesday morning, 19 August. The swell is a tiny 2 ft from the SE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is weak (55). The wind is glassy, which is a positive, but the waves are just surfable – very ordinary. This is a beginner-friendly spot, but with such small waves, it’s more of a paddle than a session.
After that, the forecast is dominated by poor surf conditions. There’s a gap of several days with no recommendations until Saturday morning, 22 August, where a 2 ft swell from the south (period 5 seconds) shows up with glassy wind, but again, it’s surfable but very ordinary. The combined energy is still weak (54). Then on Sunday, 23 August, the swell pushes to 3 ft from the south (period 6 seconds), but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s messy.
The only standout in the whole period is Thursday morning, 27 August. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the SE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to moderate (174). That’s the biggest energy we see. But the wind is onshore from the ENE, so the waves will be choppy and poor. It’s a shame – if the wind were offshore, this could be a decent session for beginners. For experts, these conditions are pretty ordinary.
Overall, don’t get your hopes up. The surf is small, the wind is mostly wrong, and there’s no real quality on offer. If you’re desperate for a paddle, Wednesday morning 19 August or Saturday morning 22 August might give you a glassy window, but that’s about it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 36 | 75 | 61 | 42 | 40 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | off |
High Tide | 9:50PM1.63m | 10:16AM1.51m | 10:35PM1.51m | 11:04AM1.50m | 11:19PM1.37m | 11:53AM1.47m | 00:04AM1.23m | 12:43PM1.42m | 00:51AM1.11m | 1:37PM1.38m | 1:43AM1.01m | 2:35PM1.35m | 2:42AM0.95m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:59AM-0.08m | 4:16PM-0.03m | 4:40AM-0.04m | 5:08PM0.06m | 5:21AM0.02m | 6:00PM0.15m | 6:03AM0.09m | 6:57PM0.24m | 6:47AM0.16m | 7:58PM0.31m | 7:36AM0.22m | 9:04PM0.36m | |||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
8:00 | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 29 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 35 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | E 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
7 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 75 | 61 | 42 | 40 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | E 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 4 | E 6 |
6 | 11 | — | 10 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | E 7 | E 7 | SE 12 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — |
— | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 36 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | — | S 5 | WSW 4 | E 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 |
14 | — | 11 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 32 | — | — | 6 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 27 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 282 | 821 | 2540 | 821 | 575 | 1231 | 532 | 298 | 642 | 99 | 17 | 140 | 3 | 129 | 837 | 358 | 569 | 548 | 82 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











