Delaware
Morning kicks off with 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s.
Morning kicks off with 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s.
Best window·Monday 7AM–10AM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bethany Beach, Delaware. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair - Good. Morning kicks off with 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ENE swell at 5s and 9mph from the WSW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 5s with 15mph NNW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on NE swell at 4s with 16mph NNE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 7s with light NNE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Bethany Beach turns Good.
Check Bethany Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Bethany Beach offers accessible beach breaks along Delaware's Atlantic coast with consistent small to medium waves that work well for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving environment for developing skills, with the break facing eastward to capture Atlantic swells during fall and winter months. This family-friendly beach town spot avoids heavy localism and delivers reliable, mellow waves ideal for progressing your surfing fundamentals.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bethany Beach is 2-3ft with a 5.7s swell period. Wind is S at 13mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bethany Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 2ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.9ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft SSW 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 Bethany Beach is Monday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bethany Beach 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 Bethany Beach. 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.
Bethany Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Bethany Beach offers accessible beach breaks along Delaware's Atlantic coast with consistent small to medium waves that work well for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving environment for developing skills, with the break facing eastward to capture Atlantic swells during fall and winter months. This family-friendly beach town spot avoids heavy localism and delivers reliable, mellow waves ideal for progressing your surfing fundamentals.
The prime season at Bethany Beach 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 Bethany Beach include strong currents, shallow sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bethany Beach 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
