87°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
20%
34
Sussex County, DE · Atlantic Ocean
Indian River Inlet
Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
The inlet connecting Indian River Bay to the Atlantic, spanned by the 2,600-foot Indian River Inlet Bridge. A major fishing destination — surf casting for striped bass, flounder, bluefish, and red drum. Currents here are strong and the swimming isn't casual.
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 87. South wind around 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 10pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 10pm 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 74. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 87°F air — ideal beach weather
- 20% 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
17 /100
skip
0 Swim
48 Sunbathe
28 Walk
3 Fish
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
87°F
Clear
Wind
20 mph
S
Rain
20%
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
5 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 13d 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
5:50 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
81°
Sunny
4%
85
85°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
70%
9
83°
Showers And Thunderstorms
79%
7
80°
Chance Rain Showers
29%
70
80°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
15%
78
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).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Major
3:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Minor
10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Major
3:50 PM - 5:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Delaware Seashore State Park lots.
Dogs
Dogs permitted on leash outside swim areas.
Entry Fee
$10/vehicle DE, $20/vehicle out-of-state (within Delaware Seashore SP)
Address
Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Indian River Inlet today?
Indian River Inlet shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Indian River Inlet dog-friendly?
Dogs permitted on leash outside swim areas.
Is there an entry fee at Indian River Inlet?
$10/vehicle DE, $20/vehicle out-of-state (within Delaware Seashore SP)
Are there lifeguards at Indian River Inlet?
No lifeguards are stationed at Indian River Inlet. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Indian River Inlet?
Amenities at Indian River Inlet include fishing pier, jetty access, marina, bait shop.
When is the water warmest at Indian River Inlet?
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 Indian River Inlet located?
Indian River Inlet is in Sussex County, DE, at Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS