Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SSW swell with 112 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period with ESE 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 22) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m 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 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next 16 days for Pelican Watch. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a slow stretch for this spot. The water temp is sitting at 83°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a wetsuit.
The first week is pretty flat. From Wednesday the 19th through to the end of the month, there’s barely a pulse. The combined swell energy is mostly in the teens to low 100s, with weak, short-period windswell. The wind is all over the place, often cross or cross-off, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. There’s a gap of about a week where the surf is poor or just “surfable but ordinary” – nothing to write home about.
Saturday morning the 22nd offers the first real chance, with a small 2ft S swell but paired with a nice light offshore WNW wind. The energy is only 63, so it’s weak, but it’s clean. It’s not big, but for a beginner spot, it’s a chance to get wet. The swell direction is from the south, which isn’t the optimum SE direction for this break, so it’s more of a soft, small wave.
The standout window, if you can call it that, falls on the 1st of September. Tuesday afternoon sees a bump in energy to 850, with a 5ft swell from the east at 12 seconds. That’s a moderate groundswell, and it’s the biggest push we see. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the most size we’ll get. The break is exposed to the SE, so this east swell will wrap in a bit. That’s a promising but uncertain long-range call – keep an eye on it.
Through the first week of September, the mornings look cleaner with glassy or light offshore conditions, but the swell is small to moderate. The 3rd of September has a 3ft SE swell at 9 seconds with glassy conditions – that could be a fun little session if the tide works.
Overall, it’s a quiet run. The best bets are the 22nd of August for a clean, tiny wave, and the 1st of September for the biggest swell of the period. Don’t expect any barrels, just a few slow, small waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 30 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 38 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 112 | 60 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:43AM1.01m | 2:35PM1.35m | 2:42AM0.95m | 3:36PM1.34m | 3:45AM0.93m | 4:35PM1.36m | 4:45AM0.96m | 5:28PM1.40m | 5:38AM1.01m | 6:14PM1.45m | 6:24AM1.09m | 6:55PM1.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:36AM0.22m | 9:04PM0.36m | 8:31AM0.25m | 10:09PM0.37m | 9:31AM0.26m | 11:06PM0.34m | 10:29AM0.23m | 11:54PM0.30m | 11:22AM0.19m | 00:36AM0.26m | 12:10PM0.15m | 1:12AM0.20m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 7:53 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | 10 | 4 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | S 6 | SE 11 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 10 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 30 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 62 | 33 | 31 | 13 | 28 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | S 4 | — | E 6 | S 4 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | E 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 3 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | E 7 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 7 | SSE 6 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | ENE 3 | ENE 3 | S 5 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | — | 5 | 18 | 38 | 55 | 38 | 54 | 80 | 77 | 112 | 60 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 755 | 821 | 1155 | 538 | 1573 | 253 | 23 | 3 | 298 | 575 | 19 | 119 | 3 | 23 | 140 | 23 | 527 | 1155 | 532 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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