85°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
22%
34
Sussex County, DE · Atlantic Ocean
Dewey Beach
Delaware's party beach, just south of Rehoboth. Small town, big nightlife, young crowd. Also unusually dog-friendly for an Atlantic beach — dogs allowed year-round with off-leash hours early morning and late evening in summer.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 76°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind around 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 85°F air — ideal beach weather
- 22% rain — pop-up showers possible
- 20 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
Water
- 76°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
- 3.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- NWS alert active — tornado watch issued july 18 at 1:55pm edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws mount holly nj
20 /100
skip
0 Swim
49 Sunbathe
27 Walk
28 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Water level 0.7 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft expected. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 NM and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 NM. * WHEN...From noon today to midnight EDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Weather alert in effect
Tornado Watch issued July 18 at 1:55PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Atmosphere
Air Temp
85°F
Clear
Wind
20 mph
S
Rain
22%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
76°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
3.9 ft
5s · S swell
Water Quality
Clean
10 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 11d ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ455)
The PHI office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NJZ014 Eastern Monmouth — Sandy Hook Low
- NJZ026 Coastal Ocean — Long Beach Island Low
- NJZ025 Coastal Atlantic — Atlantic City Low
- NJZ024 Atlantic Coastal Cape May — Ocean City Low
- DEZ004 Delaware Beaches — Rehoboth Beach Low
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:49 AM
Sunset
8:22 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:10 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 6:23 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 12:44 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 6:35 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:59 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 7:12 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:35 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 7:33 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:48 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 7:59 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:26 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 8:33 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:37 AM | High | 3.8 ft |
| 8:47 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 3:19 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 9:34 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:32 AM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 9:35 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 4:15 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 10:37 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:31 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 10:25 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 5:11 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 11:38 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 11:16 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 6:02 PM | High | 4.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8557380, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
80°
Mostly Sunny
14%
83
79°
Sunny
4%
85
83°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
70%
9
81°
Showers And Thunderstorms
78%
7
77°
Chance Rain Showers
28%
66
78°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
15%
77
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 20 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 76°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Metered paid parking.
Dogs
Dogs allowed before 9:30 AM and after 5:30 PM in summer. Off-leash permitted with Dewey Beach dog license. Year-round dog access otherwise.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking
Address
Dewey Beach, DE 19971
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Dewey Beach today?
Dewey Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Dewey Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs allowed before 9:30 AM and after 5:30 PM in summer. Off-leash permitted with Dewey Beach dog license. Year-round dog access otherwise.
Is there an entry fee at Dewey Beach?
Entry to Dewey Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Dewey Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Dewey Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Dewey Beach?
Amenities at Dewey Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, bars and restaurants, showers.
When is the water warmest at Dewey Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Dewey Beach located?
Dewey Beach is in Sussex County, DE, at Dewey Beach, DE 19971.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS