Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, E swell with 270 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, pull up a stump, me old mate Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a paddle. We’ve got a solid 12-day stretch of nothing worth getting wet for, so don't be in a rush to wax the board.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on the morning of Thursday the 17th. Pelican Watch finally gets a bit of a look-in. We’re talking a 3 ft swell from the east, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (116). The real kicker is the wind: dead calm, glassy. It’s not going to be firing, but for a beginner spot, that’s about as good as it gets. The water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s a fairly consistent break, so conditions might just be good enough to get a few ankle-biters. The optimum swell is from the SE, and we’re getting east, so close enough for a little fun.
Then Friday the 18th morning, there’s a repeat. Another glassy morning, with a 2 ft east swell. The energy is weak (54), but the surface is clean. It’s a similar story.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The wind swings onshore and strong, killing any chance of anything decent. The whole run is a write-off – a long period of nothing. It’s a shame, but it happens. Keep an eye on the charts, though. It tends not to stay this flat for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 68mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 7 | 16 | 122 | 162 | 247 | 270 | 212 | 139 | 102 | 62 | 57 | 44 | 23 | 14 | 41 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:13AM1.10m | 3:10PM1.61m | 3:27AM1.12m | 4:20PM1.64m | 4:38AM1.18m | 5:23PM1.68m | 5:42AM1.29m | 6:19PM1.70m | 6:39AM1.41m | 7:10PM1.71m | 7:30AM1.51m | 7:57PM1.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:36PM-0.04m | 1:20AM0.02m | 1:30PM-0.05m | 2:03AM-0.01m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | 7:32 | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 45 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 6 | 25 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 102 | 62 | 57 | 44 | 23 | 14 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | — | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 16 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | — | SE 9 | NNE 3 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | NW 2 | — | — | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 13 | 21 | 24 | 2 | — | — | 122 | 162 | 247 | 270 | 212 | 139 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 29 | 83 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 54 | 562 | 243 | 821 | 837 | 669 | 605 | 769 | 140 | 489 | 140 | 23 | 23 | 956 | 0 | 489 | 708 | 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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