
Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, E swell with 132 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with SSE 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s is also forecast. 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, it’s a bit of a flat spell for us. There’s a decent run of small, clean days but nothing that’s going to have you rushing out of work. The swell energy is weak for the most part, especially in the first week. We’re looking at knee to waist-high slop at best. You’ll want to keep the log out and manage your expectations.
The first good bet doesn't show up until Tuesday the 22nd. The waves are still small, around 2ft, but it’s glassy with light offshore wind. It’s the calmest we’ve seen. The water temp is about average for this time of year, sitting at 83°F, so it’s warm, but nothing crazy. That morning is your only real shot that day, as the onshores come up in the afternoon and chop it all up.
Then we have a bit of a gap again until the final week. It looks like Monday the 25th has a bit of a pulse, getting up to 4ft from the southeast, but it’s a short-period, wind-swell mess. Not exactly pretty. The wind is offshore though, so it might be worth a paddle if you’re desperate. But it’s not the kind of day you’ll be telling stories about.
The real standout, and I mean the only true standout, is the morning of Saturday the 23rd. The swell is small, around 3ft from the south, but the conditions are clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s still nothing huge, but it’s the most surfable and wave-for-wave, it’s the best quality on offer. It’s not a world-beater, but it's the pick of a pretty average run. Don’t expect it to be perfect, but it’s the most fun we’re going to have.
Beyond that, there’s nothing that’s worth getting excited about. There are a few others, but the energy is weak, the winds are average, and the quality just isn’t there. It’s one of those stretches where the ocean just takes a break.
Keep an eye on the long-range, because things can change, but as it stands, you can pick your days and not stress about missing out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | E 5 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 13 | 37 | 36 | 55 | 132 | 80 | 50 | 31 | 41 | 44 | 35 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 7:27PM1.79m | 7:44AM1.34m | 8:17PM1.78m | 8:37AM1.43m | 9:05PM1.73m | 9:27AM1.48m | 9:50PM1.63m | 10:16AM1.51m | 10:35PM1.51m | 11:04AM1.50m | 11:19PM1.37m | 11:53AM1.47m | 00:04AM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:41PM-0.15m | 1:45AM-0.03m | 1:38PM-0.16m | 2:32AM-0.08m | 2:32PM-0.15m | 3:16AM-0.09m | 3:25PM-0.11m | 3:59AM-0.08m | 4:16PM-0.03m | 4:40AM-0.04m | 5:08PM0.06m | 5:21AM0.02m | 6:00PM0.15m | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 25 |
Feels °C | 32 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 13 | 37 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 20 | 11 | 44 | 35 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 8 | — | E 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | — | — |
6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 10 | — | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | 7 | — | — | 7 | — | 41 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | E 7 | — | SE 6 | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | SSW 5 | — | SW 5 | — | E 6 |
3 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | SSW 5 | SW 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SSW 5 | S 4 | S 4 |
7 | 10 | 19 | 21 | 11 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 28 | — | 15 | 34 | 24 | 55 | 132 | 80 | 50 | 31 | 3 | 14 | 24 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1707 | 2540 | 1707 | 837 | 2003 | 129 | 1707 | 2540 | 708 | 1763 | 253 | 23 | 708 | 892 | 575 | 532 | 615 | 532 | 298 | 613 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











