Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, SSW swell with 60 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s 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 (Aug 09) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. 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 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Pelican Watch has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the water's sitting at a balmy 83°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises in the temp department.
To be brutally honest, it's a lean stretch ahead. We've got a tiny window of something rideable this Sunday morning, August 9th. We're looking at tiny 2ft swell from the SE with a short 7-second period. The combined energy is weak at (53). What makes this the standout, and really the only option, is that the wind is glassy. That means the surface will be silky smooth, which is a massive positive for waves this size. It's not going to be big, but for a beginner-friendly spot like Pelican Watch, that clean, small stuff is about as good as it gets right now.
After that, however, it’s pretty much game over. From Sunday afternoon all the way through to Tuesday, August 18th, the conditions are consistently poor. The winds are tricky, the swell drops right off, and the quality just isn't there. Even when we see a little pulse of energy on Saturday, August 15th, with a 4ft swell (energy 95), the onshore wind ruins it.
We finally see a bit of life again on Monday, August 17th. The swell is still small at 2ft, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The combined energy climbs to a moderate (74), and the wind is cross-off and clean. By Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, things are surfable but very ordinary, with clean 2ft surf (energy 64). This is the next best bet after Sunday morning, but it's still a far cry from pumping.
The back half of the forecast has a few fleeting moments of interest on Thursday, August 20th, with a 2ft swell from the ESE at 11 seconds and moderate energy (109), but the onshore wind will kill any quality. After that, it's a downward slide into very small, clean but weak conditions to finish the run.
So, to sum it up: our one true standout is Sunday morning, August 9th, at Pelican Watch. It’s a glassy, beginner-friendly window with tiny clean surf. Otherwise, prepare for a lot of flat, or poor quality days, with Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th offering the next best, but still very ordinary, options.
Keep your eyes on the sky, folks. Forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 4 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 52 | 33 | 40 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 27 | 35 | 33 |
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 | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:33PM1.71m | 5:48AM1.15m | 6:33PM1.76m | 6:48AM1.25m | 7:27PM1.79m | 7:44AM1.34m | 8:17PM1.78m | 8:37AM1.43m | 9:05PM1.73m | 9:27AM1.48m | 9:50PM1.63m | 10:16AM1.51m | 10:35PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:34AM-0.05m | 00:01AM0.09m | 11:40AM-0.10m | 00:55AM0.02m | 12:41PM-0.15m | 1:45AM-0.03m | 1:38PM-0.16m | 2:32AM-0.08m | 2:32PM-0.15m | 3:16AM-0.09m | 3:25PM-0.11m | 3:59AM-0.08m | 4:16PM-0.03m | 4:40AM-0.04m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 10 | SE 6 | SSW 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | 52 | 33 | 40 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 27 | 10 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | E 8 | SE 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | SE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 8 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 10 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | E 8 | E 13 | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | NE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 22 | 34 | 29 | 21 | — | 35 | 30 | — | 24 | 36 | 42 | 56 | 3 | 14 | 35 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 729 | 54 | 529 | 1580 | 142 | 22 | 742 | 22 | 837 | 837 | 54 | 54 | 282 | 3 | 54 | 990 | 0 | 54 | 956 | 110 |
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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