Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with 49 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks at Pelican Watch.
Honestly, the first week is a bit of a bust. We’re looking at a real dry spell to kick things off. From Monday the 24th of August right through until the end of the month, it’s just tiny, weak slop with poor surf conditions. The swell is barely a ripple, mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft with short-period, weak energy. The wind is a mix of cross and cross-off, but it doesn’t matter because there’s no power in the water. You’re not missing a thing.
We finally see a pulse of energy on Monday the 31st of August. A long-period ESE groundswell pushes in, but it’s still only 0.7ft to 1ft. The energy ticks up, but it’s still not enough to get excited about. The conditions are ‘surfable but very ordinary’ – not worth paddling out for.
The real news starts to build on the 1st of September. The ESE swell picks up to 2ft-2ft on Tuesday, with a solid period of 15 seconds. The energy is building, so we’re getting some proper grunt. The wind is cross-off, keeping things clean. It’s still a bit small, but the building energy is a good sign.
Now, the standout window is Thursday the 3rd of September. That’s the one you want to circle. Thursday morning we’ve got a nice 4ft ESE groundswell with a 15-second period, and the energy is pumping. The wind is a light cross-off from the north, and the report says to expect very good surf conditions. That’s the best of the whole run. Thursday afternoon the wind switches to a stronger WNW, which is still cross-off, but the morning is the pick.
Friday the 4th of September is also a solid option. Morning glass-off with a light NNW wind, 3ft ESE swell, 14-second period, and good energy. Expect good surf conditions. It’s a touch smaller than Thursday, but the glassy conditions will make it feel like a dream.
After that, the swell drops off fast. From the 5th of September onwards, we’re back to small, weak waves under 2ft, and the energy fades away. The wind stays clean for a few days, but there’s just no swell to work with through the second week.
Water temp is sitting at 84°F, which is a degree warmer than usual for this time of year – a little tropical bathwater feel.
So, the pick of the litter is Thursday the 3rd of September morning. That’s the one. The 4ft, 15-second ESE groundswell with clean cross-off wind is your best bet. Friday morning is a close second with that glassy feel. The rest is a wait-and-watch game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 5 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 21 | 12 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 31 | 42 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | 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 | 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 | 2:58PM0.04m | 3:23AM0.04m | 3:41PM0.05m | 3:57AM0.03m | |||||||
6:39 | — | — | 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 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | S 5 | SE 10 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
3 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 10 | 26 | 24 | 31 | 42 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | E 7 | SE 10 | S 5 | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 6 | E 10 | SW 4 | E 9 | E 9 |
13 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 1 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | SW 5 | E 7 | E 6 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 8 | — | — | S 6 | — | SE 5 | E 10 | — | E 10 | — | — |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | SW 4 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | — | S 4 | S 3 | — | SW 4 | — |
— | 21 | 22 | — | 11 | 3 | — | 7 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 55 | 46 | 32 | 22 | — | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 253 | 527 | 253 | 129 | 253 | 142 | 142 | 1230 | 532 | 351 | 290 | 3 | 54 | 634 | 489 | 278 | 978 | 527 | 769 | 762 | 527 |
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.











