Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, ENE swell with 88 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Aug 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 1.3m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. It’s been a quiet stretch along this coast, and I’ve gotta say, the next 16 days are looking pretty slim for those of us wanting to get wet. There’s a long gap of poor surf conditions right through the middle of the week with nothing recommended until Monday the 17th of August, and even then, it’s not much. Let’s break it down.
The first real sniff of anything surfable isn’t until Monday morning the 17th of August over at Pelican Watch. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft of swell coming out of the SE, with an 8-second period. The combined energy is still pretty weak (51), so don’t get your hopes up too high. The wind is in a cross-offshore direction (SW) at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean, and Rusty’s call is that these are “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s a beginner break and fairly consistent, so if you’re learning and just want to get wet, maybe. But honestly, this is the only option right now.
That tiny window is gone by Monday afternoon when the wind picks up to 16 mph from the SSW and the swell drops back down. Then we’ve got another gap in any recommendations right through Thursday the 20th, all the way to Monday morning the 24th of August. That’s nearly a week of nothing worth paddling for.
Finally, on Monday morning the 24th, we get another sliver of hope. Same story: Pelican Watch, with 3ft of swell from the ENE, short-period stuff at 5 seconds, but combined energy is just 62. The wind is cross-offshore again (SW at 9 mph) and it’s clean. Again, it’s surfable but very ordinary – it’s a solid 1 out of 10 on the scale. After that morning, it drops right back down to nothing.
If you’re looking for the one standout here, Monday morning the 17th of August is your best bet simply because it’s the first thing that’s even close to rideable. The wind is good and clean, and while the swell is small, it’s consistent for a beginner spot. But man, compared to the rest of the 16-day forecast, this is scraping the bottom of the barrel. If you have to, get out on that Monday morning.
Stay tuned, forecasts can always change, but for now, don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 41 | 48 | 59 | 58 | 45 | 37 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 11:04AM1.50m | 11:19PM1.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:08PM0.06m | |||||||
 | | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 8:04 | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | S 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 6 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 41 | 24 | 15 | 10 | 45 | 37 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | E 13 | SE 8 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 12 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 9 | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | E 10 | — | SE 9 | SSE 8 | E 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | S 4 |
| kJ | 28 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 12 | 17 | 23 | — | 35 | 71 | 48 | 59 | 58 | — | — | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 54 | 2540 | 110 | 129 | 2003 | 1631 | 1763 | 842 | 99 | 129 | 54 | 19 | 17 | 878 | 142 | 575 | 1231 | 358 |
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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