Bethany Beach · Weather, flooding and hazards

Bethany Beach, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Bethany Beach, Sussex County, Delaware: 22 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.

More about Bethany Beach

Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Bethany Beach

What is the climate like in Bethany Beach, Delaware?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Lewes station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 30.2 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 47.28 inches. The station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How much snow does Bethany Beach get per year?

The 1991 to 2020 normal for the Lewes station, the nearest station we use, is 10.5 inches of snow a year. Individual winters vary a lot around that average. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Is Bethany Beach in a flood zone?

Part of Bethany Beach may sit in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and the answer depends on the address, so we do not give a town-wide yes or no. The USGS elevation at the town's Census center point is only about 6 feet, which is low ground. Look up a specific property in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the DNREC Delaware Flood Planning Tool. Source: msc.fema.gov, floodplanning.dnrec.delaware.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.

Is Bethany Beach in a hurricane evacuation zone?

Delaware labels hurricane evacuation zones A, B, C and D, and describes them as low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and storm surge. The state page does not list communities by zone, so we cannot say which zone Bethany Beach or a given address falls in. Use the Know Your Zone lookup tool or interactive map to check an address. Source: preparede.org, dema.delaware.gov.

What body of water is Bethany Beach on?

Bethany Beach is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. The Bethany Beach Improvement Company dug the Loop Canal, at the foot of First Street, in 1910. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.

How big is Bethany Beach and how high above sea level is it?

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Bethany Beach at 1.148 square miles of land and 0.015 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 6 feet above sea level (USGS 3DEP), and ground height varies across town. Source: www2.census.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.

Which National Weather Service forecast zone covers Bethany Beach?

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Bethany Beach in forecast zone DEZ004, Delaware Beaches, Delaware. This was read from the NWS point forecast page for the town's Census center point. Source: forecast.weather.gov.

Which month is the wettest in Bethany Beach and which is the driest?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, July is the wettest month at 4.95 inches and February is the driest at 3.17 inches. The Lewes station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many 90 degree days does Bethany Beach get in a typical year?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, the station averages 29.2 days a year with a high of 90 degrees F or more, and 0.8 days at 100 degrees F or more. The Lewes station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

When are the first and last freezes of the year in Bethany Beach?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, NOAA lists March 29 as the 50 percent probability date for the last spring freeze (32 degrees F or lower) and November 14 for the first fall freeze, a growing season of 231 days at that probability. The Lewes station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Which month is snowiest in Bethany Beach?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, February is the snowiest month at 6.5 inches, followed by January at 2.0 inches. Individual winters vary a lot. The Lewes station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What is the average yearly temperature in Bethany Beach?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, the annual normal temperature is 58.5 degrees F, with an average daily high of 67.0 and an average daily low of 50.1. The Lewes station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What should I do if caught in a rip current at Bethany Beach?

The National Weather Service says to stay calm, not fight the current and not try to swim directly to shore. Swim parallel to the shoreline until out of the current, then angle toward shore, and if you cannot reach shore, face the shore and call or wave for help. Source: weather.gov.

How fast is sea level rising near Bethany Beach?

Bethany Beach is on the Atlantic coast. NOAA's Lewes tide gauge (station 8557380) shows a relative sea level trend of 3.78 millimeters per year, plus or minus 0.13, using data from 1919 to 2025. That is 1.49 inches per decade and it includes local land motion. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

How fast is sea level rising at Ocean City, the tide gauge south of Bethany Beach?

NOAA's Ocean City tide gauge (station 8570283, Ocean City Inlet, Maryland) shows a relative sea level trend of 5.26 millimeters per year, plus or minus 0.36, using data from 1975 to 2025. Lewes shows 3.78 millimeters per year from 1919 to 2025. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov, api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

How high are normal high tides at the Lewes tide gauge?

NOAA lists mean higher-high water at Lewes at 7.43 feet and a mean tide range of 4.08 feet, both against the station datum for the 1983 to 2001 epoch. The highest observed water level there was 12.037 feet on January 23, 2016. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

What water level counts as coastal flooding on the nearest National Weather Service tide gauge to Bethany Beach?

Bethany Beach is on the Atlantic coast, and the nearest National Weather Service gauge for Sussex County coastal flooding is at Lewes. The National Weather Service gauge Delaware Bay at Lewes (Mount Holly office) lists flood stages of 6 feet minor, 7 feet moderate and 8 feet major, measured against MLLW. Its impact notes say minor flooding at 6.2 to 6.8 feet affects Dewey Beach, Broadkill Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Milford, and widespread roadway flooding in coastal Sussex County begins at 7 feet. Source: api.water.noaa.gov.

Which way would Bethany Beach traffic be routed in a hurricane evacuation?

Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan says South Bethany and Bethany Beach "will be routed west on Route 26 towards Dagsboro." Route 26 is on the plan's list of primary east-west evacuation routes. Source: deldot.gov.

Where can I see live weather and tide data for Bethany Beach?

The town's Weather and Tides page lists a weather station at Town Hall, UDel DEOS stations DBBB on the boardwalk and DBNG on Route 1, NOAA buoy 44009 offshore, and the Delaware Coastal Flood Monitoring System. It also links the Mount Holly NWS radar and the NWS seven-day forecast for zone DEZ004. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.

Does Bethany Beach publish flooding and drainage maps?

The town's Weather and Tides page links town documents titled Storm Water Drainage Flow Directions, Flooding Tendency Zones and Land Elevation Compared to Sea Level, plus tidal gauges in the Assawoman Canal and a Loop Canal tides page. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.

What emergencies does the Bethany Beach preparedness page cover?

The Emergency Preparedness page lists hurricanes, coastal storms, flooding, fires, power outages, chemical spills and terrorism. It links topic guides such as a preparedness kit, make a plan, pets, seniors and the disabled, and utilities, and it points to preparede.org. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.

How long would a hurricane evacuation take in Sussex County, where Bethany Beach is?

Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan says it is estimated to take over 24 hours to evacuate a large population. It also states that approximately ninety percent of Delaware's coastal storm flood-vulnerable housing units (Category 2 hurricane) are in Sussex County. Source: deldot.gov.

How these answers are sourced

Every answer on this page cites an official or primary source, such as the town, a state agency, NOAA or the institution itself. Answers SussexCounty.ai could not confirm from a primary source are left out until they can be.