Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SW swell with 135 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period. 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the Pelican Watch stretch. Honestly, for the first week and a half, it’s pretty flat and frustrating. We’re lookin’ at a long gap of poor conditions with hardly any push. From Saturday the 8th right through until the end of the following week, the swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the energy is weak, barely registerin’ above 100 (combined energy mostly in the teens and twenties). The wind is a bit of a mixed bag, but the swell just isn’t there to make anything of it. You’d be fightin’ for a knee-high dribbler at best. It’s a real dry spell.
Then, things start to show a little pulse around Monday the 17th of August. The swell picks up to 2 ft from the SE, and the period stretches out to 10 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy finally bumps up to 105, and then 137 later in the day. That Monday afternoon is lookin’ *glassy* – a dead calm, no wind situation. That’s a major positive for clean conditions. The waves are still small, but for a spot that’s been dead, it’s a welcome change. It’s nothing to get overly excited about, but it’s the first real chance of a surfable wave.
The best of the whole run looks like Wednesday the 19th of August. The swell bumps up to 3 ft from the ESE, with a period of 12 to 13 seconds. That’s a nice, long-period groundswell that will wrap in with some decent shape. The combined energy hits 218-229, which is a solid moderate energy for this break. The downside is the wind is cross-onshore from the ESE, so it’ll be a bit bumpy and choppy, but the swell size and quality are the best we’ve seen. For a beginner-friendly spot like Pelican Watch, this is the standout window. The swell direction is SE, right in the optimum window, and the break is exposed to it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, no big anomalies to worry about.
After that, it drops back into the ordinary range for the rest of the 16 days, with a few more small, clean mornings but nothing with any real punch. The crowds at Pelican Watch can be an issue, so expect some company if you head out on that Wednesday.
So, if you’re hangin’ for a wave, don’t bother until the 17th. The 19th is your best bet – it’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the swell has any real presence.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SW 6 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 120 | 95 | 90 | 39 | 54 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 135 | 10 | 25 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 3:32AM1.05m | 4:30PM1.64m | 4:42AM1.08m | 5:33PM1.71m | 5:48AM1.15m | 6:33PM1.76m | 6:48AM1.25m | 7:27PM1.79m | 7:44AM1.34m | 8:17PM1.78m | 8:37AM1.43m | 9:05PM1.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:51PM0.20m | 9:27AM-0.02m | 10:59PM0.15m | 10:34AM-0.05m | 00:01AM0.09m | 11:40AM-0.10m | 00:55AM0.02m | 12:41PM-0.15m | 1:45AM-0.03m | 1:38PM-0.16m | 2:32AM-0.08m | 2:32PM-0.15m | 3:16AM-0.09m | ||||||
 | |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 8:07 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 27 | 29 | 34 | 30 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 27 | 30 | 35 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 120 | 95 | 90 | 39 | 54 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 10 | 25 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | — | 10 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | — | E 12 | E 8 | E 8 | E 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 5 | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 18 | — | 5 | 12 | 8 | 19 | 35 | — | 28 | 67 | 38 | 51 | 135 | 28 | — | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 140 | 304 | 0 | 0 | 742 | 527 | 529 | 956 | 54 | 142 | 2162 | 54 | 21 | 708 | 0 | 17 | 2031 | 54 |
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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