Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, S swell with 95 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period with S 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what Pelican Watch is serving up over the next couple weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s looking flat and quiet. From Tuesday the 25th of August all the way through Monday the 1st of September, there’s hardly a wave worth chasing. Swell is tiny – 0.3m to 0.5m – and the energy is barely registering above 40 (weak energy). A few mornings have clean conditions with a light cross-offshore wind, but the swell just isn’t there. You’re better off waxing your board and waiting.
Things start to perk up just a little heading into early September. The first real chance comes on Wednesday the 2nd. Wednesday morning sees a light offshore from the WSW, with 0.4m swell out of the ESE and a 12-second period – that’s a little groundswell pulse. The combined energy hits 97 (moderate energy), the best we’ve seen so far. Still small, but the conditions will be clean and inviting.
Then Thursday the 3rd of September morning shapes up as the pick of the entire run. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – and we’ve got 0.6m of ESE swell with an 11-second period. The energy ticks over to 103 (moderate). Water temp is 29°C, about normal for this time of year. With glassy conditions and a consistent, beginner-friendly break, this is your window if you’ve got a longboard. Crowds are possible, but with surf this small, it won’t be a circus.
Friday the 4th keeps things going with another clean morning – light cross-offshore from the WNW, 0.5m ESE swell at 10 seconds, energy at 88. It’s not a standout, but it’s clean and surfable.
After that, the weekend and into the second week fades out again. Winds turn onshore, swell drops back to tiny 0.4m to 0.6m with weak energy. The last tiny chance is on Wednesday the 9th of September with another glassy morning, but only 0.4m of weak energy – a longboard-only affair.
Bottom line: your best bet is Thursday the 3rd of September morning. Glassy, clean, and just enough swell for a fun session. If you can’t make that, Wednesday the 2nd morning is your next best call.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 95 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 21 | 26 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:40AM1.49m | 9:56PM1.46m | 10:22AM1.55m | 10:36PM1.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:41PM0.05m | 3:57AM0.03m | 4:27PM0.08m | 4:34AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | E 4 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | E 10 | SSW 4 | — | — | SE 8 | E 16 | ESE 16 |
| kJ | 29 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 9 | 5 | 26 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 8 | S 4 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | SE 6 | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 2 | ENE 3 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | S 2 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 95 | 71 | 50 | 43 | 31 | — | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 1163 | 575 | 532 | 936 | 358 | 298 | 1230 | 3 | 3 | 294 | 3 | 282 | 919 | 878 | 129 | 1670 | 1670 | 2144 | 630 | 364 |
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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