Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, SE swell with 116 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
Honestly, this is a quiet stretch. Most of the next couple of weeks, the ocean’s flat or nearly flat. From now until late August, we’re looking at tiny little waves – mostly 1 to 2 feet – with weak energy and messy conditions. The combined energy readings are all low, from 13 up to 65 – that’s weak sauce. There are a few glassy mornings on Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th, and Monday 17th, but with swell under 2 feet and periods of 5 to 8 seconds, there’s hardly any push.
The one real blip comes on Friday 21st August, when a 4-foot swell from the ENE shows up, but it’s blown out by a moderate cross-onshore wind at 12 mph, making it choppy and ugly. Not worth it. Then it fades back to nothing again through Friday 28th.
Here’s the one day to circle: Saturday 29th August. We get a 4-foot swell from the ENE, short period of 5 seconds, but combined energy climbs to 84 – the best of the run. The morning goes glassy with east wind at just 3 mph, dead calm. That’s your window. Head to Pelican Watch that morning. It’s an exposed spot that likes SE swell, so the ENE direction isn’t perfect, but with clean, glassy conditions and 3- to 4-foot waves, it’ll be rideable. Good for beginners at that size. It’s inconsistent and rare to get such a clean window, so expect crowds if you go. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.
So, a whole lot of nothing for most of the 16 days, then one last chance at some clean, small surf. Not a classic, but it’s what we’ve got. Forecasts can change, so keep watching.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 27 | 116 | 96 | 79 | 59 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 12:43PM1.42m | 00:51AM1.11m | 1:37PM1.38m | 1:43AM1.01m | ||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:03AM0.09m | 6:57PM0.24m | 6:47AM0.16m | 7:58PM0.31m | |||||||
 | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 8:00 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 34 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 11 | 21 | 16 | 7 | 116 | 96 | 79 | 59 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 5 | SE 8 | E 5 | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | E 6 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 24 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 22 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | E 10 | — | E 10 | — | E 6 | — | E 5 | — | E 7 | SE 13 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 3 | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | 3 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | E 3 | ENE 4 | — | — | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 10 | 7 | 17 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 22 | 16 | 25 | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | 18 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1707 | 1709 | 2540 | 1729 | 821 | 2540 | 73 | 575 | 532 | 142 | 22 | 561 | 23 | 110 | 140 | 23 | 138 | 966 | 304 |
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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