Surf Forecasts:
Pelican Watch surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, ESE swell with 78 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. 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 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pelican Watch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's be honest with you. The next week and a half is going to test your patience. We're looking at a long stretch of tiny, junky surf before anything even thinks about showing up. Don't get your hopes up for the next ten days.
We're starting off with a real dud. For the first ten days of this forecast, we're looking at surf in the ankle to knee-high range, with poor conditions across the board. The energy is weak, with readings mostly in the 20s to 60s. The swell direction is coming out of the SE-ESE with a short period of just 6 to 9 seconds, so there's no power behind it, just messy, onshore slop at Pelican Watch.
There's a brief tease on Thursday the 21st. We see the swell bump up to 3.3ft to 3.9ft from the NE, and the energy climbs to 86 in the morning. For a moment, it looks like it might clean up, and the wave comment even says "surfable." But the period is a pathetic 5-6 seconds, and by the afternoon the wind picks up and ruins it. It's a classic case of a little bump, but no push.
After that small blip, the swell tries to fill in a bit for the final few days of the period. On Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd, we're looking at 3ft to 3.9ft of windswell, but the energy jumps from moderate to strong. We see readings of 183, 132, and then 154. The problem is the wind. It's coming from the NNE and ENE at 15.5 mph, putting a nasty cross-onshore chop all over it. The period is still poor, in the 6 to 8 second range. It's going to be a mess.
The final day in the forecast, Thursday the 24th, is the only real standout, and it's not for the faint of heart. The swell jumps to 5.6ft from the NE, with a strong period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 504. This is the biggest push we see in the whole 16-day window. But, the wind is howling out of the NE at 21.7 mph, creating fresh cross-onshore and lumpy conditions. This is a raw, stormy day. The water temperature is sitting right around average for this time of year.
Honestly, for the first nine days, there's nothing to ride. The last few days offer some size, but it's all wind-chop. That final Thursday with 5.6ft of NE swell and that much energy might have some grindy, windy peaks for the experienced crew on bigger boards, but for most, it's a full-on paddle fight. This isn't a paddle-surfing setup; with that wind and lump, it looks more like a day for the kite surfers to have a field day.
Keep the board in the car and the wax in the drawer for the first week. It's a long fallow period.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 68 | 64 | 60 | 49 | 52 | 56 | 26 | 34 | 23 | 19 | 35 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:39AM1.41m | 7:10PM1.71m | 7:30AM1.51m | 7:57PM1.68m | 8:18AM1.59m | 8:41PM1.62m | 9:03AM1.64m | 9:23PM1.53m | 9:47AM1.65m | 10:04PM1.43m | 10:30AM1.62m | 10:45PM1.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:35AM0.08m | 12:36PM-0.04m | 1:20AM0.02m | 1:30PM-0.05m | 2:03AM-0.01m | 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 | ||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | 7:28 | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 60 | 49 | 52 | 40 | 26 | 34 | 23 | 19 | 35 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 4 | SE 8 | — | S 4 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | SE 6 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | S 3 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | 68 | 64 | — | — | — | 56 | 8 | — | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | — | 9 | 9 | — | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 304 | 556 | 352 | 54 | 547 | 129 | 1230 | 1230 | 54 | 54 | 253 | 54 | 54 | 923 | 54 |
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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