Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, ENE swell with 176 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into it.
The start of this stretch is pretty dismal. We've got a good week of small, weak surf ahead, with onshore winds messing up any real potential. It’s a real dry spell, days and days of just not much worth bothering with. You might get wet, but you won’t get many waves.
The first sign of life shows up on Monday the 21st. The swell jumps a couple of feet and the wind turns offshore.
That Monday morning is your first real look at it – clean lines and some actual energy. It’s a big improvement, with moderate energy in the water.
The next few days stay punchy, with surf in the head-high to slightly overhead range, but the winds get a little tricky. You’ll have to be picky.
The standout is Thursday the 24th. Morning has a proper offshore wind, light and groomed, with the swell holding at around 4-5ft from the E. It’s clean, it’s got power, and the energy is solid. This is the one you circle.
Friday the 25th also looks like a treat – morning has a light cross-offshore breeze with the same swell size, and by the afternoon it goes full offshore. Another day of quality surf.
Now, this is `Pelican Watch` we’re talking about. It’s a fairly consistent break, but it does get crowded, so expect some company on those clean days.
Towards the end of the run, the wind picks up a little on Sunday the 27th. The swell is still there, but it gets a bit more challenging.
The water’s warm, around 82°, which is pretty standard for this time of year.
So, for the best of the bunch, lock in Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th. The earlier days are just about getting wet, and the long-range stuff looks promising but is less certain.
Stay stoked.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 45 | 41 | 39 | 62 | 62 | 176 | 104 | 88 | 85 | 55 | 72 | 53 | 106 | 80 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 9:47AM1.65m | 10:04PM1.43m | 10:30AM1.62m | 10:45PM1.31m | 11:13AM1.56m | 11:27PM1.20m | 11:59AM1.50m | 00:12AM1.10m | 12:50PM1.43m | 1:03AM1.03m | 1:48PM1.37m | 2:03AM0.99m | 2:51PM1.35m | 3:09AM0.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:55PM0.05m | 3:59AM0.06m | 4:42PM0.13m | 4:37AM0.12m | 5:30PM0.22m | 5:16AM0.20m | 6:21PM0.30m | 5:59AM0.26m | 7:18PM0.37m | 6:49AM0.32m | 8:21PM0.42m | 7:48AM0.35m | 9:26PM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 25 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 8 | SE 14 | E 9 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 17 | 41 | 39 | 62 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 7 | 13 | 62 | 80 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | — | E 5 | SW 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | — | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 9 | E 6 | SSE 5 | E 7 |
| kJ | 45 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 6 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | SE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 24 | 17 | — | 62 | 176 | 104 | 88 | 85 | 55 | 72 | 53 | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 304 | 22 | 0 | 837 | 529 | 140 | 140 | 30 | 1230 | 913 | 23 | 23 | 138 | 54 | 129 | 956 | 777 | 1155 | 960 | 1165 |
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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