North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pelican Watch, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SSW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle SSW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
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Pelican Watch is a mellow beach break located on North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering accessible waves perfect for beginners and improving surfers. The westward-facing shore picks up southern swell effectively while remaining protected from northerly winds, creating clean, peeling waves along a sandy bottom. This quiet, uncrowded spot is ideal for those seeking a relaxed session away from heavily trafficked breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pelican Watch is 1-2ft with a 7.45s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Pelican Watch is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft ESE primary swell at 7s, a 0.5ft S wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Pelican Watch is Tuesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.75s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pelican Watch works best with a E swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Pelican Watch. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Pelican Watch is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Pelican Watch is a mellow beach break located on North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering accessible waves perfect for beginners and improving surfers. The westward-facing shore picks up southern swell effectively while remaining protected from northerly winds, creating clean, peeling waves along a sandy bottom. This quiet, uncrowded spot is ideal for those seeking a relaxed session away from heavily trafficked breaks.
The prime season at Pelican Watch is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Pelican Watch include shorebreak, occasional currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pelican Watch forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
