Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, E swell with 210 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s. 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down the prospects at Pelican Watch.
It's gonna be a bit of a slow grind for the next week or so. The water's sitting at a balmy 82°F, which is dead average for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing while you're waiting for something to happen.
We kick off on Tuesday the 8th with a bit of a dud. There's about 5ft of east swell, but it's a weak, short-period 7-second wave with onshore wind. It's all bump and no power. The energy is weak (178), and it stays pretty poor through the middle of the week. The swell drops right off, bottoming out around Friday the 12th with tiny 2ft waves. The wind does go glassy that morning, so if you're desperate for a longboard float, it'll be clean, but there's just no juice.
There's a solid stretch of nothing worth paddling for. The whole first week is a washout.
Now, things start to get interesting around the 19th of September. Saturday morning the 19th finally sees a new pulse. We get a jump to 5ft from the ENE with a moderate 7-second period, and the combined energy kicks up to a moderate 258. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it'll be clean. This is the first real glimmer of hope, and it's the best we've got in the whole outlook. The waves will be a bit soft on the takeoff with that short period, but it's rideable and clean.
That afternoon it gets a little bigger to 6ft, but the wind picks up and the rating drops off. Sunday the 20th sees the swell peak around 6ft from the ENE with 385 energy, but unfortunately the wind swings onshore, messing it up.
The real standout to circle on the calendar is Tuesday the 22nd. The morning looks perfect: 6ft of east swell, 8-second period, with a light 5 km/h cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to a strong 409, and the conditions are clean. That's the session to aim for. It's a long wait, but it's promising. The afternoon gets a touch bigger at 7ft, but the wind gets a little stronger.
After that, it looks like the wind turns messy again. So, if you're patient, the 19th morning is the first chance, but the 22nd morning is the one to lock in. Keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 178 | 132 | 110 | 83 | 85 | 75 | 72 | 62 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 19 | 34 | 37 | 45 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:19PM1.70m | 6:39AM1.41m | 7:10PM1.71m | 7:30AM1.51m | 7:57PM1.68m | 8:18AM1.59m | 8:41PM1.62m | 9:03AM1.64m | 9:23PM1.53m | 9:47AM1.65m | 10:04PM1.43m | 10:30AM1.62m | 10:45PM1.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:37AM0.00m | 00:35AM0.08m | 12:36PM-0.04m | 1:20AM0.02m | 1:30PM-0.05m | 2:03AM-0.01m | 2:21PM-0.05m | 2:43AM-0.01m | 3:09PM-0.01m | 3:21AM0.01m | 3:55PM0.05m | 3:59AM0.06m | 4:42PM0.13m | 4:37AM0.12m | |||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 6 | 85 | 75 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 19 | 34 | 37 | 45 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | E 5 | E 5 | SSW 3 | E 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | E 9 | SE 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | E 5 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | — | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | 178 | 132 | 110 | 83 | — | — | 72 | 62 | 9 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 355 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 2540 | 140 | 219 | 641 | 363 | 575 | 878 | 243 | 1230 | 1232 | 253 | 54 | 1230 | 278 | 54 | 370 | 54 |
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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