Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with 48 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s 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 (Aug 25) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaking.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is pretty flat. There’s a long, dry spell coming up. From Monday the 24th of August all the way through to Sunday the 6th of September, the surf is just not happening. We’re talking tiny, weak waves and poor conditions day after day. It’s a real bummer for a stretch like that.
The only thing that starts to flicker to life is on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning at Pelican Watch shows a glimmer of hope – a clean, gentle offshore breeze from the west-southwest, with a little 1ft swell from the ESE. The period is a nice long 15 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate (115), and the water is a warm 84°, about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s pleasant. But honestly, the wave height is still tiny, and the forecast says it’s "surfable but very ordinary." It’s not worth rushing out for.
The most promising window comes on Thursday the 3rd of September. The afternoon sees the swell nudge up to 3ft from the ESE, with a 13-second period, and the combined energy hits a solid 206 – that’s the strongest in the whole outlook. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 16 mph, keeping the surface clean. Still, the forecast calls it "marginal," so you’d be scratching for a ride. It’s the best of a bad lot, but it’s not a standout.
Overall, Pelican Watch is a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, but with this run, the consistency doesn’t matter because there’s just no swell. It’s exposed to the SE and the optimum swell is from the SE, so the direction is right, but the size and timing are all wrong. There’s a risk of thunderstorms through the first week too, which doesn’t help the mood.
If you’re a beginner, there’s nothing here for you until after the 1st of September, and even then, the size is too small. For experts, there’s nothing to get excited about at all. Honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for a flat water paddle than a surf session.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 43 | 44 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:01AM1.42m | 9:19PM1.52m | 9:40AM1.49m | 9:56PM1.46m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:58PM0.04m | 3:23AM0.04m | 3:41PM0.05m | 3:57AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 13 | 22 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 8 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 31 | 34 | 43 | 44 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 5 | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | SSW 4 | — | E 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 26 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 16 | E 14 | E 14 | E 8 | — | — | — | E 5 | E 11 | SE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | — | ESE 2 | — |
| kJ | 21 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 17 | 23 | 33 | 53 | 34 | 42 | 24 | 24 | — | 4 | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 527 | 0 | 82 | 1155 | 565 | 892 | 1230 | 304 | 352 | 19 | 19 | 294 | 578 | 278 | 3 | 142 | 129 | 1583 | 253 | 1205 |
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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