Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s look at what we’ve got coming. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple weeks are looking pretty flat for a proper paddle. There’s a long dry spell here, and you might be better off doing something else for a bit.

First thing to note, the water temp is about 84°, which is a solid degree warmer than usual for this time of year – that stands out.

We start on Saturday the 22nd with a risk of thunderstorms and a tiny, weak wave. Pelican Watch is showing a 1ft wave from the ESE with a short 9-second period. The energy is minimal (26), and it’s blowing onshore. Hardly worth getting wet for. Sunday the 23rd gives us a brief window of clean conditions with a light offshore wind from the west, but the wave is only 2ft from the south with a period of just 5 seconds – that’s windswell, no power (41 energy). It’s just not going to have any shape.

From Monday the 24th right through the end of August, we’re stuck in a rut. The swell hovers between 0.5ft and 2ft, mostly from the SE or ESE, with periods all under 13 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore or cross-shore, keeping the surface clean, but there’s just not enough size or energy to push a rideable wave. The combined energy barely breaks 40 most days.

The morning of Saturday the 29th sees a slight bump with a clean, glassy start, but the wave is still only 2ft from the ESE at 8 seconds. The energy ticks up to 52, and the notes say “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best we can say.

We hit a gap in real hope until we get into September. The first sign of life shows up on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning session sees a 2ft SE groundswell with a long period of 15 seconds and energy jumping to 143. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSW. That’s the first time we’ve seen any real push in the water. It’s still small, but that long period means it’ll have some shape and power. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning builds on that: a 3ft SE swell at 11 seconds, energy hitting 221, with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. This is the standout of the whole outlook. It’s not big, but it’s the best quality we’re going to see. Since it’s over a week out, keep an eye on it. The swell direction from the SE lines up well with what this break likes.

Later, Thursday the 3rd of September morning offers a clean 2ft ESE swell with a 10-second period and a light offshore wind from the WSW. Not the size or power of Wednesday, but it’s clean and could give you a few fun ones if the tide cooperates.

After that, it fades back into tiny, onshore or cross-shore slop right through to the end of the forecast.

So, bottom line: if you’re keen, the pick is Wednesday morning, 2nd of September. That 3ft SE groundswell with the cross-offshore wind is the closest we get to a proper surf. Tuesday the 1st is a decent warm-up. The rest? Honestly, this forecast looks better for kite-surfing – plenty of wind, not much wave face for a paddle surfer. Hang tight.

Rusty.

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