57°
Sunny
0%
27
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.
NWS alert active · 57°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind around 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. West wind around 20 mph.
Weather
- 57°F air — chilly for a beach day
- 20 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 63°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
- 3.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued november 7 at 1:11pm est until november 8 at 9:00am est by nws mount holly nj
27 /100
skip
6 Swim
35 Sunbathe
64 Walk
65 Photo
Best for photography 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 November 7 at 1:11PM EST until November 8 at 9:00AM EST by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 6 ft. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 NM, 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...Until 9 AM EST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
57°F
Clear
Wind
20 mph
NW
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
31 Good
Ozone · Sussex County
UV Peak
3 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~67m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
59°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
63°F
Cold
Next High Tide
7:18 PM
4.1 ft · in 46m
Wave Height
3.9 ft
10s · SSE swell
Barometer
29.88 inHg
1012 hPa · buoy 44009
Water Quality
No recent sample
Last reading 5w ago: above threshold
USGS · not a current condition
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
4:54 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:58 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 1:11 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:18 PM | High | 4.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:10 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:39 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 1:55 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:59 PM | High | 4.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:48 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:18 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 2:35 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:38 PM | High | 3.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:24 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:55 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 3:14 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 9:16 PM | High | 3.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:59 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:32 AM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 3:52 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:54 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:36 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 10:10 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 4:32 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 10:34 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:15 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 10:51 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 5:16 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 11:17 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8557380, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
59°
Sunny
1%
46
59°
Sunny
0%
40
62°
Sunny
0%
57
61°
Sunny
0%
61
58°
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
32%
39
53°
Chance Light Rain
37%
16
What to Bring Today
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 20 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- recommended Wetsuit or expect a chill Water is 63°F
- recommended Layers / windbreaker Only 57°F outside
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