Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, ENE swell with 205 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pelican Watch in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again with the same outlook, just in feet and the usual.
It’s a long, slow grind at Pelican Watch. For the first nine days or so, we’re looking at waist-high or smaller slop with onshore crud. The water temp is about 81°, pretty normal for the season.
Don’t bother paddling out until Monday the 21st of September. The morning that day brings a chest-high set from the east-northeast with glassy conditions, but it doesn’t have much juice behind it. The afternoon jumps up, but a 9 mph cross-shore wind will mess the surface.
The real one to circle is the morning of Tuesday the 22nd of September. That’s an 8-foot swell out of the east, with a 8-second period and solid power. The wind is dead calm – glass. That’s the session. Keep in mind, 8-foot waves are for experienced surfers only. It gets blown out by a 12 mph cross-onshore wind in the afternoon, so don’t sleep in.
Wednesday the 23rd morning is a decent backup. You’re looking at 5-foot waves from the south-southeast, also glassy, so it’ll be clean, but the direction isn’t perfect for the break. Still, if Tuesday doesn’t work for you, that’s your next best bet.
After that, it’s back to small, choppy junk right through to the end of the 16-day window. On the 26th, there’s a 6-foot swell with a long 11-second period from the east-southeast, but a strong 15 mph cross-onshore wind will make it a washing machine.
Basically, you’ve got two mornings to focus on: the 21st is okay, but the 22nd is the standout. Hit that Tuesday morning hard. The rest of it? Leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 19 | 36 | 39 | 42 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 30 | 30 | 159 | 139 | 72 | 118 | 88 | 80 | 64 | 132 | 81 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — |
mm | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 32 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | E 9 | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 7 |
| kJ | 25 | 19 | 36 | 39 | 42 | 45 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 30 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | — | — | E 15 | — | — | — | SE 14 | — | E 9 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 30 | 8 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 2 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 33 | — | — | 159 | 139 | 72 | 118 | 88 | 80 | 64 | 132 | 81 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1583 | 282 | 304 | 1232 | 298 | 82 | 22 | 0 | 54 | 818 | 529 | 140 | 140 | 605 | 817 | 30 | 23 | 140 | 696 | 288 |
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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