Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period, SE swell with 169 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s 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 (Sep 01) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 0.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what’s on offer.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is a tough slog. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak surf with very little energy. The waves are small, the period is short, and most sessions are just gonna be a bumpy, frustrating paddle. The first real glimpse of something worth getting wet for doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, September 2nd, and even then it’s just barely surfable. That morning at Pelican Watch you’ll find a tiny 3ft swell from the SE with a moderate 10-second period, and the combined energy is only 128 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze, so the surface will be clean, but don’t expect any power. It’s beginner-friendly, but it’s not going to get the heart racing.
After that, we get a few more mornings with similar conditions—clean but small—through to the 4th of September. Then we hit another flat spell. The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re waiting for something to happen.
The next window of opportunity pops up on Tuesday, September 8th. The morning is looking like the best bet in this whole outlook. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the SE, but the period jumps to 13 seconds, giving it some real groundswell texture. The combined energy hits 116 (moderate), and the wind is glassy—dead calm. That’s a major positive. The waves will be clean, but that long period means they might break a bit straight on the beach, so look for a sandbank or a corner. It’s a small wave, but it’ll be the most fun you’ll have all week. Still a beginner-friendly size.
The Wednesday morning, September 9th, is a repeat of that: 3ft from the SE with an 11-second period, glassy conditions, and 154 (moderate) energy. It’s another clean, mellow session. After that, the swells fade back to nothing and the winds get messy.
There’s nothing in this 16-day window that’s a true standout. The best on offer are those two mornings—September 8th and 9th—with clean, glassy conditions and a touch of long-period energy. It’s not a classic, but for a dawn session, it’ll do.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 13 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 35 | 44 | 103 | 154 | 100 | 86 | 53 | 52 | 34 | 33 | 17 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 9:19PM1.52m | 9:40AM1.49m | 9:56PM1.46m | 10:22AM1.55m | 10:36PM1.39m | 11:07AM1.58m | 11:19PM1.30m | 11:57AM1.60m | 00:09AM1.21m | 12:55PM1.60m | 1:06AM1.14m | 2:00PM1.60m | 2:13AM1.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:58PM0.04m | 3:23AM0.04m | 3:41PM0.05m | 3:57AM0.03m | 4:27PM0.08m | 4:34AM0.03m | 5:18PM0.13m | 5:16AM0.04m | 6:14PM0.18m | 6:05AM0.06m | 7:17PM0.23m | 7:02AM0.09m | 8:28PM0.26m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — |
mm | — | 6 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 35 | 26 | 103 | 154 | 100 | 86 | 53 | 52 | 34 | 33 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | E 9 | — | E 9 | SE 15 | SE 13 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 8 | 44 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 282 | 282 | 282 | 769 | 576 | 278 | 1231 | 454 | 253 | 527 | 0 | 0 | 321 | 304 | 0 | 359 | 559 | 282 | 780 | 892 |
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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