Delaware
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on E swell at 6s.
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on E swell at 6s.
Best window·Monday 3PM–6PM·2-3ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dewey 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: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. 1-2ft waves to start the day on ENE swell at 6s.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on ENE swell at 5s with 9mph from the W. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out very poor with 1-2ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 1-2ft and poor conditions.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on NNE swell at 4s and 15mph out of the NNE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with gentle N breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Dewey Beach turns Good.
Check Dewey Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Dewey Beach is a classic mid-Atlantic beach break offering accessible, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. Located along Delaware's resort-oriented coastline, this sandy bottom break receives consistent swell during autumn and winter months when Atlantic storms generate quality waves. The beach's proximity to the Delaware Bay inlet and residential areas makes it a popular but manageable spot for surfers of all levels seeking reliable conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dewey Beach is 1-2ft with a 5.4s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Dewey Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft E wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.4ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft SW 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 Dewey Beach is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 10.1s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dewey 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 Dewey 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.
Dewey Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Dewey Beach is a classic mid-Atlantic beach break offering accessible, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. Located along Delaware's resort-oriented coastline, this sandy bottom break receives consistent swell during autumn and winter months when Atlantic storms generate quality waves. The beach's proximity to the Delaware Bay inlet and residential areas makes it a popular but manageable spot for surfers of all levels seeking reliable conditions.
The prime season at Dewey 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 Dewey Beach include inlet currents, seasonal rip currents, crowded on weekends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Dewey 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).
