Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
28.6°C
1.1° 

Pelican Watch surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Pelican Watch surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, E swell with 220 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.6m 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 10th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 10th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Most Powerful 8AM (Tue 8th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the table.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead. Over the next few weeks, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing special. There’s a long, dry gap right from the start with days of flat or weak, wind-chopped junk. The first real chance of anything doesn’t show up until well into the second week, and even then, it’s barely a pulse. For the most part, unless you’re desperate for a paddle, you’re better off finding something else to do.

Looking at the only break on the radar, Pelican Watch, things kick off with a run of poor conditions. We’ve got a fresh cross-onshore breeze blowing at 19 mph on Monday the 7th, with a weak, short-period swell of 4 ft from the ENE. The combined energy is a measly 88, so there’s no grunt in the water. That trend continues through Tuesday and Wednesday, with messy onshore winds and lumpy surf.

Thursday the 10th morning does go glassy, with a light SE breeze, but the swell has dropped to a pathetic 2 ft. It’s clean, but there’s just nothing to ride. The water temp feels average for this time of year, nothing strange there.

The truth is, we’ve got over a week of this. The energy readings are all under 100, meaning the ocean is basically asleep. For a beginner spot like this, the occasional 5 ft bump on Monday the 7th afternoon is also blown out with a fresh onshore wind, so it’s not even worth the drive. If the wind was lighter, maybe, but it’s not.

Given the persistent wind and poor quality at this beach-and-reef setup, especially when the swell does pick up a little, the conditions would actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The onshore winds and waist-high lumps are just a recipe for chop.

The only faint glimmer is way out on Saturday the 19th. The morning shows a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the SW at 6 mph, with a tiny 2 ft swell from the ENE. Even then, the energy is only 57, and the score reflects “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout; it’s just less terrible than the rest. That’s as good as it gets in this 16-day window.

So, to put it plainly: there are no good surf options here. For the first week, it’s effectively flat or blown out. The second week offers a couple of moments of clean, tiny surf, but nothing that qualifies as a recommendation. For this area, a blank run like this is pretty normal. Forecasts can change, but right now, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
E
5
1.2
ENE
5
1.5
E
6
1.5
E
6
1.5
E
7
1.2
E
6
1
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
0.8
ESE
7
0.7
ESE
7
0.5
ESE
7
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
SE
8
0.9
E
4
1.2
E
5
0.8
E
5
0.4
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
59
78
154
170
202
123
96
99
79
61
42
27
33
21
17
29
74
32
29
Wind (km/h)
20
E
30
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
25
ENE
25
E
15
ENE
15
E
15
ESE
10
SE
5
SE
15
SSW
15
SW
10
NNW
10
SE
5
SE
15
E
20
E
15
E
Wind State
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
High Tide
4:38AM1.18m
5:23PM1.68m
5:42AM1.29m
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
Low Tide
10:47PM0.21m
10:32AM0.05m
11:44PM0.14m
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
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:50
6:50
6:50
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:27
7:24
7:23
7:22
 mm
6
2
3
1
2
7
5
1
3
Temp °C
26
26
27
26
27
27
26
27
27
26
27
29
28
27
29
27
27
27
27
Feels °C
26
23
24
24
24
25
25
27
27
27
31
30
31
29
31
29
28
28
29
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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