Bethany Beach tides today
- Tide now 1.7 ft ↑ rising · high 10:10 pm (4.0 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 4:10–6:10 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach tomorrow 1:00–6:00 pm Fair beach day · 6/10
- Waves · water 1.8 ft · 62 °F slight · 6.4 s from the east
- Wind · air 6 mph · 59 °F from the ESE, gusts 13 · overcast
- Sun 7:23 am–6:05 pm 10 h 42 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:43 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:43 pm
- Diving tomorrow 10:00–11:30 am great day · 10/10
Today in Bethany Beach there are high tides at 9:51 am (5.6 ft) and 10:10 pm (4.0 ft) and low tides at 3:17 am and 4:13 pm. Tide coefficient 89. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 10:10 pm. The sun rises at 7:23 am and sets at 6:05 pm: 10 h 42 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:43 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:35 am to 3:35 am and from 2:07 pm to 4:07 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 1.8 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the east-southeast (6 mph). Overcast, 59 °F.
Fishing in Bethany Beach today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 4:13 pm
- Major period 2:07–4:07 pm
- Steady pressure (30.36 inHg), light onshore wind (7 mph) and some swell (2.0 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 89 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 3:10 pm to 4:10 pm, combines the 4:13 pm low tide, a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also worth a try from 2:20 am to 3:30 am, with the 3:17 am low tide, a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: summer flounder, longfin inshore squid, weakfish and scup. October is one of the months when these are seen most: longfin inshore squid and weakfish. What you can catch
Beach day in Bethany Beach
Is it a beach day?
- Mostly sunny
- Calm for swimming: 2.2 ft waves
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Low tide at 4:13 pm: more sand
- Feels like 64 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate onshore wind (13 mph): choppy water
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 2.2 ft
2.2 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 62 °F
Cold: ease in slowly.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 13 mph
Moderate onshore wind (13 mph).
- Tide & sand 3:17 am
Low tide at 3:17 am and 4:13 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 9:51 am and 10:10 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Bethany Beach
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Bethany Beach 0.1 mi · SE
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
- Fenwick Beach 4.7 mi · S
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for Delaware (Delaware Recreational Waters).
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Bethany Beach
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Bethany Beach
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 3:17 am -0.3 ft
- ▲ High tide 9:51 am 5.6 ft · coef. 89
- ▼ Low tide 4:13 pm 0.0 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 10:10 pm 4.0 ft · coef. 87
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 20 min to high tide at 10:10 pm.
Tide coefficient 89 for the 9:51 am high tide and 87 for the 10:10 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 5.9 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on May 17 (5.6 ft) and the lowest, on December 25 (-1.3 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 27 (coefficient 92, 5.8 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 40, 2.6 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:23 am · 6:05 pm | Low tide 3:17 am · -0.3 ft | High tide 9:51 am · 5.6 ft | Low tide 4:13 pm · 0.0 ft | High tide 10:10 pm · 4.0 ft | Coef. 89 | 91% | Major periods 1:35 am · 2:07 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:24 am · 6:04 pm | Low tide 4:07 am · -0.2 ft | High tide 10:43 am · 5.4 ft | Low tide 5:08 pm · 0.2 ft | High tide 11:02 pm · 3.8 ft | Coef. 84 | 84% | Major periods 2:39 am · 3:11 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:25 am · 6:02 pm | Low tide 5:00 am · -0.1 ft | High tide 11:38 am · 5.2 ft | Low tide 6:07 pm · 0.4 ft | High tide 11:58 pm · 3.6 ft | Coef. 77 | 74% | Major periods 3:44 am · 4:15 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:26 am · 6:01 pm | Low tide 6:00 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 12:37 pm · 4.9 ft | Low tide 7:10 pm · 0.6 ft | — | Coef. 70 | 63% | Major periods 4:46 am · 5:15 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:27 am · 5:00 pm | High tide 1:00 am · 3.4 ft | Low tide 6:05 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 12:41 pm · 4.6 ft | Low tide 7:13 pm · 0.7 ft | Coef. 67 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:44 am · 5:11 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:28 am · 4:59 pm | High tide 1:09 am · 3.4 ft | Low tide 7:13 am · 0.5 ft | High tide 1:48 pm · 4.4 ft | Low tide 8:15 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 63 | 41% | Major periods 5:37 am · 6:01 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:29 am · 4:58 pm | High tide 2:21 am · 3.5 ft | Low tide 8:23 am · 0.5 ft | High tide 2:55 pm · 4.2 ft | Low tide 9:12 pm · 0.5 ft | Coef. 65 | 30% | Major periods 6:25 am · 6:48 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Bethany Beach has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Rehoboth Beach (NOAA), 13 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Ocean City (Fishing Pier) reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Bethany Beach
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.9 ft
- Significant1.8 ft
- Highest expectedHighest3.8 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 3.8 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 3.8 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 2.3 ft with a period of 6 s, from the east (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water about normal for late October.
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 6:51 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 44009, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Surf in Bethany Beach today
Surf today
Poor- 1.3–2.1 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 1.5 ft swell at 6 s from the east-southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Light onshore wind (8 mph): a bit of chop
- Rising tide (high tide at 9:51 am)
- Light: First light 6:55 am · sunrise 7:23 am · sunset 6:05 pm · last light 6:32 pm
- Tide: low 3:17 am (-0.3 ft), high 9:51 am (5.6 ft), low 4:13 pm (0.0 ft) and high 10:10 pm (4.0 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 61.2 °F: a 4/3 fullsuit.
- Energy: 17 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window is 7:00 am to 11:00 am, though with a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Bethany Beach today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (9:51 am): little current from 9:36 am to 10:10 am
- 1.5 ft swell at 6 s from the east-southeast: barely any surge
- Moderate onshore wind (13 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the south-southwest, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 3:17 am (3:00–3:32 am), high tide 9:51 am (9:36–10:10 am), low tide 4:13 pm (3:58–4:30 pm) and high tide 10:10 pm (9:50–10:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 61.2 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:32 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:43 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:00 am to 10:30 am, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, weak current and the sun high, though with moderate wind. Also good from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, with slack water at low tide, light wind and weak current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Wreck 0.3 mi
- Wreck 1.1 mi
- Wreck 2.0 mi
- Wreck 5.7 mi
- Wreck 6.0 mi
- Wreck 6.5 mi
- 10 - Southern Sword 7.7 mi
- 10 - Yon 80 7.7 mi
- 10 - Mr. G and Rusty Pusher 7.8 mi
- 10 - YC 725 A 7.8 mi
- 10 8.1 mi
- 9 9.6 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation. Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in Bethany Beach
Now in Bethany Beach
- Low / high
- 56 / 65 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 1%
- Clouds
- 96%
- Humidity
- 80%
- Dew pointDew point
- 53 °F
- Visibility
- 11 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 43
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.01 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.21 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Clear | Clear | Clear | Clear sky | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy |
| Temperature | 56° | 56° | 56° | 60° | 64° | 65° | 61° | 58° |
| Wind (mph) | 8 E | 8 ENE | 9 ENE | 10 NNE | 10 NE | 9 E | 7 ESE | 6 E |
| Gusts | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Waves | 2.3 ft | 2.2 ft | 2.2 ft | 2.2 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.0 ft | 1.9 ft | 1.8 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 6:00 pm 61° 7 ESE 1.9 ft
- 9:00 pm 58° 6 E 1.8 ft
- 12:00 am 57° 6 ESE 1.8 ft
- 3:00 am 56° 6 E 1.6 ft
- 6:00 am 55° 5 E 1.6 ft
- 9:00 am 58° 3 NNE 1.6 ft
- 12:00 pm 65° 3 E 1.4 ft
- 3:00 pm 68° 5 SE 1.4 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 56 / 65 °F | 13 mph ENE | 2.3 ft | 9:51 am · 10:10 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 55 / 68 °F | 6 mph ESE | 1.8 ft | 10:43 am · 11:02 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 54 / 73 °F | 9 mph WNW | 1.9 ft | 11:38 am · 11:58 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 50 / 58 °F | 12 mph NNE | 1.9 ft | 12:37 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 51 / 63 °F | 6 mph ESE | 1.2 ft | 1:00 am · 12:41 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 55 / 66 °F | 6 mph SE | 1.0 ft | 1:09 am · 1:48 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 57 / 67 °F | 12 mph ENE | 1.0 ft | 2:21 am · 2:55 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 58 / 68 °F | 12 mph ENE | 1.5 ft | 3:28 am · 3:54 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 59 / 68 °F | 15 mph ESE | 2.9 ft | 4:24 am · 4:44 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 56 / 66 °F | 12 mph WNW | 4.7 ft | 5:11 am · 5:30 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 52 / 62 °F | 13 mph NW | 5.3 ft | 5:54 am · 6:11 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 45 / 58 °F | 12 mph NW | 4.9 ft | 6:34 am · 6:52 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 43 / 57 °F | 8 mph N | 3.5 ft | 7:14 am · 7:32 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 42 / 61 °F | 5 mph NNE | 2.8 ft | 7:55 am · 8:12 pm |
- Thu 29 Mainly clear 55° / 68° 1.8 ft
- Fri 30 Clear sky 54° / 73° 1.9 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 50° / 58° 1.9 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 51° / 63° 1.2 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 55° / 66° 1.0 ft
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 57° / 67° 1.0 ft
- Wed 4 Mainly clear 58° / 68° 1.5 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models They agree · high confidence for the next few days. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, a bit wetter and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (64 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 6:51 pm (local time).
The sun in Bethany Beach
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:24 am
- Full dark 7:03 pm
- Civil dawn 6:55 am
- Civil dusk 6:32 pm
- Solar noon 12:44 pm (38° high)
- Daylight 10 h 42 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:28 pm
- Full dark 7:03 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,769 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Bethany Beach
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:35–3:35 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:07–4:07 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:58–10:58 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:13–8:13 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 3:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Bethany Beach
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Holts Landing State Park Pier 5.4 mi
- Bayside Pier 7.1 mi
- Jetty 4.8 mi
- Jetty 5.0 mi
- Boat ramp 0.6 mi
- Boat ramp 0.8 mi
- Boat ramp 1.0 mi
- Boat ramp 1.1 mi
- Harbor View Marina 2.1 mi
- Strawberry Landing 2.8 mi
- Tackle Up 0.1 mi
- Hook 'em & Cook 'em Outfitters 2.0 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 600 ft from shore and 33 ft at 0.4 mi.
From the shoreline (600 ft from Bethany Beach) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep600 ft
- 33 ft deep0.4 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 600 ft): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. 33 ft deep 0.4 mi from shore; 66 ft is far out (beyond 3.1 mi): for deeper dives, go by boat.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
_2.jpg)
Fenwick Island Light 6.1 mi south
- Light
- A white flash every 13 s · Fl W 13s
- Range
- 13 nautical miles (15 mi)
- Light height
- 82 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 85 ft
- Built
- 1858
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Bethany BeachTides nearby
- South Bethany1.6 mi
- Ocean View1.9 mi
- Fenwick Island5.3 mi
- Long Neck7.6 mi
- Bishopville10 mi
- Warwick10 mi
- Dewey Beach11 mi
- Ocean Pines11 mi
- Rehoboth Beach13 mi
- Millsboro13 mi
Bethany Beach at a glance
- Town or city of about 1,170 people. Coordinates: 38.540° N, 75.055° W.
- It is 17 mi south of Lewes, the main place in Delaware. The sun rises 1 min earlier and sets at the same time than in Lewes.
- The nearest tide station, Rehoboth Beach, is 13 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces east.
Questions about Bethany BeachQuestions
What time is high tide today in Bethany Beach?
Today in Bethany Beach there are high tides at 9:51 am (5.6 ft) and 10:10 pm (4.0 ft) and low tides at 3:17 am and 4:13 pm. Tide coefficient 89.
What time is sunset today in Bethany Beach?
At 6:05 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:32 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Bethany Beach?
At 7:24 am. First light comes at 6:25 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:35–3:35 am, Minor 9:58–10:58 am, Major 2:07–4:07 pm, Minor 7:13–8:13 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Bethany Beach?
Overcast, from 56 °F to 65 °F, with a light breeze from the east-southeast (6 mph) and a 1% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Bethany Beach?
Slight (Douglas 3): 1.8 ft waves with a period of 6.4 s from the east. The water is 61.7 °F.
When is the best time to visit Bethany Beach?
The best time to visit Bethany Beach is from May to September: highs of 71 °F to 85 °F, about 11 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: NOAA station Rehoboth Beach (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).