Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period, SE swell with 128 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s 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 0.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s happening for Pelican Watch.
To be honest, this is a rough patch. We’ve got a big gap of nothin’ worth paddling for from the start of the forecast. A long run of poor conditions from Thursday the 13th of August right through to the early part of the following week. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but the swell is tiny and weak, with the combined energy barely hitting double digits on the first day. The water temp is 82°F, which is about normal for this time of year.
We finally get a little hope on Tuesday the 18th of August. The morning is glassy with a small pulse of longer-period swell from the southeast at 13 seconds. It’s tiny, only 1ft, but that longer period gives it a bit more shape. The combined energy is 85. The afternoon sees a bump to 2ft, with the energy getting into the moderate range (149), but the wind comes cross-shore, so it’s not perfect. This is the best you’re gonna get, and it’s for the patient surfer.
The last few days of the month are more of the same – small, weak, and mostly onshore or cross. The standout is Tuesday morning the 18th of August, with that glassy surface and a hint of longer-period groundswell. For a beginner break, that tiny 1ft, 13-second swell from the southeast is the only clean window of workable surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 35°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 21 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 45 | 118 | 97 | 67 | 64 | 40 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:37AM1.43m | 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 | 2:32PM-0.15m | 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 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 35 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 36 | 37 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | E 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 5 |
| kJ | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 21 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 35 | 118 | 97 | 67 | 64 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SSW 5 | E 6 | SSW 4 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 45 | — | — | — | — | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 7 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | — | E 6 | SE 15 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SW 4 | — | S 5 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 23 | — | 1 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 18 | — | 7 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 33 | 84 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2540 | 2039 | 1580 | 1707 | 2603 | 54 | 1906 | 1837 | 723 | 821 | 841 | 54 | 129 | 708 | 304 | 23 | 529 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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