Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSW swell with 52 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s 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 0.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’ve looked over the Pelican Watch forecast for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough one. This is a beginner-friendly, exposed spot, and the swell just isn’t rolling in with any kind of energy for most of the run. We’re looking at a long, dry spell before anything even gets close to surfable.
Water temp is sitting at a warm 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your butt off while you’re waiting.
The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Tuesday morning, August 25th. The swell is a tiny 2ft out of the south, with a short, weak period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a measly (59), so it’s not going to have any punch. The one saving grace is that the wind is forecast to be glassy, dead calm. That’s a major positive, making it clean. But “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” is the honest truth. For a beginner spot, it’s paddle practice, not a session to write home about.
After that brief glimpse, it’s back to a long stretch of nothing. From Tuesday afternoon all the way through to the end of August, the swell doesn’t get above 2ft and the wind is consistently cross-off or cross-shore. It’s just poor surf conditions, day after day. Not worth paddling out for.
We get a little bump in energy on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. The swell height picks up to 3ft from the SE, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at (151). However, the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy. The height is still small, and the chop will mess up the shape. It’s not a standout, just a step up from the nothingness before it.
The following days into early September look like more of the same: small, weak, and onshore winds. The best thing I can say about this whole 16-day window is that if you are a total beginner and just want to bob around in glassy, knee-high water on Tuesday morning the 25th, you might have a laugh. For anyone else, this is a time to check the forecast again in a few days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | SSW 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 6 | ESE 8 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 17 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 13 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 32 | 32 | 52 | 28 | 37 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:23AM1.34m | 8:43PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:16PM0.05m | 2:50AM0.06m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — |
mm | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | S 6 | SE 10 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 6 | ESE 8 | S 5 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 13 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 11 | 32 | 32 | 52 | 28 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SE 11 | E 7 | SE 10 | SE 9 | E 16 | E 15 | SE 9 | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 9 | E 11 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 17 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 27 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 12 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — | E 14 | E 14 | S 6 | — | E 12 | — | E 11 |
| kJ | 1 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 6 | WSW 3 | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 5 | 17 | 45 | 27 | 25 | 50 | 47 | 34 | — | 22 | 4 | — | 19 | 19 | — | 15 | 46 | 90 | 69 | 62 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 352 | 351 | 22 | 548 | 59 | 253 | 456 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 54 | 82 | 529 | 278 | 304 | 536 | 304 | 142 | 578 | 0 |
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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