Pelican Watch Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.04° N 77.89° W

Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pelican Watch sea temperature is
27.3°C
0.1° 

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 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, ENE swell with 150 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Most Powerful 8AM (Tue 15th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me look at this forecast for Pelican Watch. To be straight up with you, the first week-plus is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a whole lot of nothing going on that’s worth paddling out for. For the first 11 days from now, it’s pretty much a surf drought – small, weak, wind-affected slop. Not worth wetting your wetsuit for.

Things start to turn a little towards the end of the run. Around the 23rd of September, we finally get some juice. Wednesday afternoon sees a pulse of 5ft swell from the ENE, and the wind goes light and cross-off from the NNW. That combo cleans things up nicely, with a combined energy of 345 (moderate). The water temp here is sitting at 81°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

But the real standout, the one I’d circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 24th of September. The morning has clean, light cross-off winds from the NW with a solid 4ft ENE swell. And then Thursday afternoon? Glassy conditions, literally zero wind, with the same 4ft swell and combined energy of 226 (moderate). That’s the pick of the whole 16 days – clean, fun size, and decent shape for a beginner-friendly spot like this. It’s a consistent break, but it can get crowded, so get in early.

The swell direction from the ENE is a bit off the optimum SE direction this spot likes, but with that glassy wind and manageable size, it’ll still be plenty of fun for beginners and cruisers. If it gets over 5ft later in the run, it’s pushing too big for a beginner, but that 4ft is a sweet spot.

After that, Friday the 25th gets blown out again by onshore winds, so don’t sleep on that Thursday window.

Stay sharp, and see you out there.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
AM
PM
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
1
0
1
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)
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
1.5
ENE
6
1.4
ENE
6
1.3
E
6
1.1
E
6
1
E
6
1.1
E
5
1
E
6
1
E
6
1.2
E
6
1.1
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
31
25
24
36
39
42
45
41
40
30
30
130
150
106
75
66
70
66
66
109
104
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
15
SSW
15
SW
10
SSW
20
SSW
20
SW
10
SW
15
SW
15
WSW
0
N
10
S
25
ENE
25
NE
25
ENE
20
NE
25
NE
25
ENE
20
NE
20
NE
15
E
15
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
High Tide
8:18AM1.59m
8:41PM1.62m
9:03AM1.64m
9:23PM1.53m
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
Low Tide
2:21PM-0.05m
2:43AM-0.01m
3:09PM-0.01m
3:21AM0.01m
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
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:54
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:23
7:22
7:21
7:20
7:17
7:16
7:15
 mm
5
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
8
11
Temp °C
28
30
28
29
30
27
27
31
29
30
32
29
24
25
24
23
26
25
25
26
26
Feels °C
32
32
31
32
31
28
29
32
31
34
34
31
22
21
21
21
24
23
25
27
28
  • 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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