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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with moderate SSE wind around 12mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 18mph out of the NNE.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate WNW wind around 7mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph from the S. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 12mph WNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 8.2s swell period. Wind is SE at 11mph 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 0.3ft ESE primary swell at 13s, a 3ft SE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.5s 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.
