Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with 36 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 0.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM. 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 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s look at what we’ve got coming. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple weeks are looking pretty flat for a proper paddle. There’s a long dry spell here, and you might be better off doing something else for a bit.
First thing to note, the water temp is about 84°, which is a solid degree warmer than usual for this time of year – that stands out.
We start on Saturday the 22nd with a risk of thunderstorms and a tiny, weak wave. Pelican Watch is showing a 1ft wave from the ESE with a short 9-second period. The energy is minimal (26), and it’s blowing onshore. Hardly worth getting wet for. Sunday the 23rd gives us a brief window of clean conditions with a light offshore wind from the west, but the wave is only 2ft from the south with a period of just 5 seconds – that’s windswell, no power (41 energy). It’s just not going to have any shape.
From Monday the 24th right through the end of August, we’re stuck in a rut. The swell hovers between 0.5ft and 2ft, mostly from the SE or ESE, with periods all under 13 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore or cross-shore, keeping the surface clean, but there’s just not enough size or energy to push a rideable wave. The combined energy barely breaks 40 most days.
The morning of Saturday the 29th sees a slight bump with a clean, glassy start, but the wave is still only 2ft from the ESE at 8 seconds. The energy ticks up to 52, and the notes say “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best we can say.
We hit a gap in real hope until we get into September. The first sign of life shows up on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning session sees a 2ft SE groundswell with a long period of 15 seconds and energy jumping to 143. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSW. That’s the first time we’ve seen any real push in the water. It’s still small, but that long period means it’ll have some shape and power. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning builds on that: a 3ft SE swell at 11 seconds, energy hitting 221, with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. This is the standout of the whole outlook. It’s not big, but it’s the best quality we’re going to see. Since it’s over a week out, keep an eye on it. The swell direction from the SE lines up well with what this break likes.
Later, Thursday the 3rd of September morning offers a clean 2ft ESE swell with a 10-second period and a light offshore wind from the WSW. Not the size or power of Wednesday, but it’s clean and could give you a few fun ones if the tide cooperates.
After that, it fades back into tiny, onshore or cross-shore slop right through to the end of the forecast.
So, bottom line: if you’re keen, the pick is Wednesday morning, 2nd of September. That 3ft SE groundswell with the cross-offshore wind is the closest we get to a proper surf. Tuesday the 1st is a decent warm-up. The rest? Honestly, this forecast looks better for kite-surfing – plenty of wind, not much wave face for a paddle surfer. Hang tight.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 9 | ESE 13 | S 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 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 36 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 27 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-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 | 9:31AM0.26m | 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 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 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 | 16 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 11 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 13 | 3 | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 26 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
16 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 12 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 36 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 27 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSW 4 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 |
3 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 12 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — |
7 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 4 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 |
— | 3 | 17 | 43 | 25 | 34 | 51 | 49 | 78 | 29 | 39 | 29 | 25 | 44 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 75 | 88 | 88 | 71 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 278 | 352 | 54 | 22 | 548 | 99 | 82 | 54 | 3 | 99 | 243 | 82 | 82 | 1098 | 352 | 278 | 1230 | 3 | 304 | 351 | 19 |
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.











