Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with 34 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s 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 25) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 0.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. I’m gonna be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty slim. We’re in a flat spell, and there’s not much energy on the horizon. You’ll need to be patient.
The first chance to get wet is on Tuesday morning, August 25th, at Pelican Watch. We’re looking at a tiny 1ft swell from the southeast, but the wind is dead calm, pure glass. That’s a huge plus for a break that’s this exposed to the south-east. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 85°. The combined energy is weak (51), and the 11-second period gives it a bit of life. It’s surfable, but the conditions are still pretty ordinary. For a beginner spot, it’s just a chance to get the board wet.
Then we drift into a whole lot of nothing. Most days are a mix of cross-off winds and tiny, weak swell. The energy stays low, usually well under 100. There’s a glassy morning on Saturday, August 29th, but the swell is barely 1ft. It’s a long, flat stretch.
There’s a flicker of hope on Monday, September 1st. The waves are still only 1ft, but the swell period jumps to 19 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the energy finally climbs to a moderate 85. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. The long lines suggest a better shape, but it’s a small wave.
The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Thursday, September 3rd. The swell pushes up to 3ft from the ESE, with a solid 12-second period. The combined energy jumps to 259 – that’s moderate to strong, by far the best of the whole forecast. The wind is cross-off, so the conditions should be clean. This is the best day on offer. The size is still small enough for beginners, and the quality looks to be the best. It’s the one day that has a real chance of producing some fun, rideable waves.
After that, it fades again. The wind shifts onshore on Friday, September 4th, which kills it. The weekend and into the following week just looks flat and weak. So, if you’re hanging on for a wave, Tuesday morning, August 25th is a chance for a glassy paddle, but Thursday, September 3rd is the real target. It’s a long way out, but it’s the best shot we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:28PM1.40m | 5:38AM1.01m | 6:14PM1.45m | 6:24AM1.09m | 6:55PM1.50m | 7:06AM1.17m | 7:32PM1.54m | 7:45AM1.26m | 8:08PM1.56m | 8:23AM1.34m | 8:43PM1.55m | 9:01AM1.42m | 9:19PM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:29AM0.23m | 11:54PM0.30m | 11:22AM0.19m | 00:36AM0.26m | 12:10PM0.15m | 1:12AM0.20m | 12:54PM0.10m | 1:46AM0.15m | 1:36PM0.07m | 2:18AM0.10m | 2:16PM0.05m | 2:50AM0.06m | 2:58PM0.04m | 3:23AM0.04m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 16 | 1 | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 19 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | E 16 | — | — | E 13 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 15 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | 25 | 16 | 14 | 24 | 45 | — | — | — | 7 | 16 | 33 | 27 | 24 | 35 | 25 | 32 | 29 | 22 | 20 | 20 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 575 | 642 | 253 | 669 | 19 | 0 | 708 | 82 | 304 | 253 | 253 | 253 | 956 | 304 | 351 | 352 | 82 | 304 | 253 | 588 |
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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