Delaware
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and 9mph from the WSW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 8s with 7mph from the SW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 8s and 10mph from the SW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with 12mph from the SSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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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 9.45s swell period. Wind is S at 9mph and 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 2.3ft E primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft SE tertiary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft 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 Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
