Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, E swell with 229 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 11AM (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 Friday (Sep 04) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. 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 1.6m 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Pelican Watch. This is one of those stretches where you’ve got to be patient. The first solid recommendation doesn’t show up until Friday the 18th of September, so you’re looking at a long gap of nearly two weeks with nothing worth paddling out for. Up until then, it’s tiny, onshore, or just plain messy – not worth getting wet for.
The water at Pelican Watch is sitting at 83°, which is about 1° warmer than usual for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a touch on the mild side.
Now, the standout window is Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. Friday morning the 18th is the real gem. The swell comes up to 5ft from the ENE, with a period of 6 seconds – it’s a short-period wind swell, but the energy is moderate (222). The wind is glassy, straight off the land from the SSW, so the surface will be clean as a whistle. The break is exposed, and the swell direction is from the east-northeast, which is a little off the optimum SE, but with that offshore wind and clean conditions, it’ll be fun for anyone who can handle a waist-to-chest high wave. The crowd factor is listed as “often,” so don’t expect to have it to yourself.
Friday afternoon the 18th sees the swell bump to 6ft (304 energy), still from the ENE, but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-offshore from the SSW. It’s still clean, but the bigger size and shorter period mean it’ll be a bit more powerful and dumpy – best for surfers with some experience.
Saturday morning the 19th is another good call. Swell drops slightly to 5ft from the E (229 energy), with a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW. Clean again, and the waves should be a bit more lined up. The period is still short at 7 seconds, so expect a bit of a lumpy, chop-friendly wave, but manageable.
The whole two-week stretch before that is a write-off. The only real surf to speak of is those couple of days at the end. If you’re itching for a wave, pencil in the 18th and 19th, but don’t get your hopes up for anything before that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the E by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 54 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 36 | 8 | 8 | 97 | 154 | 139 | 229 | 161 | 132 | 102 | 64 | 47 | 34 | 12 | 15 | 39 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:00PM1.60m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | E 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 54 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 36 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 102 | 64 | 47 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 39 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | — | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | SE 9 | E 7 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | S 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | WSW 3 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | — | ENE 3 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | N 2 |
| kJ | — | 12 | 4 | 10 | 52 | 65 | — | 2 | 97 | 154 | 139 | 229 | 161 | 132 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 65 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1120 | 54 | 1573 | 1586 | 243 | 809 | 837 | 669 | 605 | 561 | 140 | 351 | 1237 | 140 | 140 | 1243 | 519 | 54 | 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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