UPDATE: Ocean access closed Aug. 22 in Rehoboth, Dewey

Updated

Hazardous weather advisories in place through much of the weekend

Hurricane Erin has blown out to sea, which has brought sunny skies. However, the ocean is still too rough, so water access has been closed again Aug. 22 in Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Route 1 closed just south of Dewey Beach because of bayside flooding overnight Aug. 21, but the dune immediately north of the Indian River Inlet held its ground. The morning of Aug. 22, there were a number of folks out with their metal detectors at the inlet. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The skies are tempting, but the water rough. This guy was in the water at Rehoboth Beach before the lifeguards were on duty Aug. 22. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The Lewes Beach Patrol takes advantage of the rough surf to do some training off Savannah Beach. BILL SHULL PHOTO

With the double red flags flying Aug. 21, Rehoboth Beach Patrol Chief Rich Szvitich prepares for the day. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

A Delaware State Parks Beach Patrol stand at Deauville Beach has all the tools to save lives, but hopefully no one is silly enough to try to enter the water Aug. 21. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Local beach patrols have reopened water access to knee level. Here Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Jeff Giles looks out over the beach the morning of Aug. 20. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Splashing around on a flooded Read Avenue in Dewey Beach on the night of Aug. 19 are (l-r) Hannah Daily, Sophia Milak and Chase Czekaj. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Grant Otto rides a wave at the Indian River Inlet on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

This family paid to enjoy the beach in Rehoboth this week, and gosh darn it, they’re going to enjoy it. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Dewey Beach lifeguards block beach access with their vehicles. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Beaches in Lewes remained open Tuesday, Aug. 19. Lifeguards kept a close eye on the people who waded into the rough surf. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Hannah Reilly, left, does some acrobatics amidst the surf in Dewey Beach with Madelyn Sloane on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Ocean access is restricted Aug. 18 in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. The rain has held off, so people are still walking the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Surfer Grant Otto braves the waves at the Indian River Inlet on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Big waves provide a lot of photo ops Aug. 18 on Rehoboth Beach. BILL SHULL PHOTO

There’s been some scarping of the dune along Route 1 at the Indian River Inlet. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

A single surfer stretches before hitting the waves at the inlet. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The flags are red at the Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Rehoboth Beach Patrol lifeguard Grace Neal does some pushups to stay warm. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The wind lessens considerably on the street side of the dunes, which is why Chris and Jack O’Brien can shoot hoops at this house in Indian Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

When the state finished a beach replenishment project earlier this year at the Indian River Inlet, this old antenna foundation was fully covered. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Beachgoers brave the water at Savannah Beach in Lewes the morning of Aug. 19. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Waves crash at the Indian River Beach on Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

A family takes a walk on a windy Savannah Beach in Lewes on Aug. 21. BILL SHULL PHOTO

It’s always a ragtop day at the beach, even when we’re feeling the effects of a hurricane. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Lewes lifeguards were in the water training. BILL SHULL PHOTO

It may not have been a good beach day Aug. 21, but it was an ideal opportunity for Lewes lifeguards to train. BILL SHULL PHOTO

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is heading to New Jersey on the choppy Delaware Bay. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Cape Gazette staff

August 18, 2025

Event Date:

Mon, 08/18/2025 - 01:00 pm

Hurricane Erin has blown out to sea, which has brought sunny skies. However, the ocean is still too rough, so water access has been closed again Aug. 22 in Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The skies are tempting, but the water rough. This guy was in the water at Rehoboth Beach before the lifeguards were on duty Aug. 22. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The Lewes Beach Patrol takes advantage of the rough surf to do some training off Savannah Beach. BILL SHULL PHOTO

With the double red flags flying Aug. 21, Rehoboth Beach Patrol Chief Rich Szvitich prepares for the day. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

A Delaware State Parks Beach Patrol stand at Deauville Beach has all the tools to save lives, but hopefully no one is silly enough to try to enter the water Aug. 21. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Local beach patrols have reopened water access to knee level. Here Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Jeff Giles looks out over the beach the morning of Aug. 20. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Splashing around on a flooded Read Avenue in Dewey Beach on the night of Aug. 19 are (l-r) Hannah Daily, Sophia Milak and Chase Czekaj. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Grant Otto rides a wave at the Indian River Inlet on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

This family paid to enjoy the beach in Rehoboth this week, and gosh darn it, they’re going to enjoy it. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Dewey Beach lifeguards block beach access with their vehicles. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Beaches in Lewes remained open Tuesday, Aug. 19. Lifeguards kept a close eye on the people who waded into the rough surf. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Hannah Reilly, left, does some acrobatics amidst the surf in Dewey Beach with Madelyn Sloane on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Ocean access is restricted Aug. 18 in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. The rain has held off, so people are still walking the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Surfer Grant Otto braves the waves at the Indian River Inlet on the evening of Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

Big waves provide a lot of photo ops Aug. 18 on Rehoboth Beach. BILL SHULL PHOTO

There’s been some scarping of the dune along Route 1 at the Indian River Inlet. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

A single surfer stretches before hitting the waves at the inlet. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The flags are red at the Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Rehoboth Beach Patrol lifeguard Grace Neal does some pushups to stay warm. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The wind lessens considerably on the street side of the dunes, which is why Chris and Jack O’Brien can shoot hoops at this house in Indian Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

When the state finished a beach replenishment project earlier this year at the Indian River Inlet, this old antenna foundation was fully covered. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Beachgoers brave the water at Savannah Beach in Lewes the morning of Aug. 19. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Waves crash at the Indian River Beach on Aug. 19. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTO

A family takes a walk on a windy Savannah Beach in Lewes on Aug. 21. BILL SHULL PHOTO

It’s always a ragtop day at the beach, even when we’re feeling the effects of a hurricane. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Lewes lifeguards were in the water training. BILL SHULL PHOTO

It may not have been a good beach day Aug. 21, but it was an ideal opportunity for Lewes lifeguards to train. BILL SHULL PHOTO

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is heading to New Jersey on the choppy Delaware Bay. BILL SHULL PHOTO

Updated 10:50 a.m., Friday, Aug. 22:

Hurricane Erin is moving north and east of the Cape Region. There may be sunny skies, but there are still lingering impacts related to wave action, which is why Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach have again closed access to the ocean. The beaches remain open for recreation. Water access will continue to be evaluated on a daily basis.

The National Weather Service has issued multiple hazardous weather advisories over the past week, some of which are still in effect: a high surf advisory is in effect until 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22; and a coastal flood warning is in effect until 2 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 23; a rip current advisory is in place until 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23.

Updated 10:50 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 21:

After a one-day reprieve, officials in Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach have again closed access to the ocean. The beaches remain open, but both beach patrols are urging caution as the tide rolls in after low tide around 12:45 p.m., today. High tide is around 7:20 p.m., which means lifeguards will not be on duty for a significant portion of high tide.

The National Weather Service has issued multiple hazardous weather advisories: A rip current statement and a high surf advisory, both in effect until 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22; a wind advisory in effect until midnight Friday, Aug. 22; and a coastal flood warning is in effect until 2 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 23.

Lewes beaches remain open. Lewes Beach Patrol is monitoring the conditions, according to Giulia Kirsch, Parks and Marina administrator.

Updated 10:57 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20:

Dewey and Rehoboth have re-opened ocean access as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 20. Due to offshore impacts of Hurricane Erin, this status may change at any time.

Swimmers should not exceed knee depth. Experienced surfers and boogie boarders may proceed beyond.

Multiple hazardous weather advisories are in place by the National Weather Service: A rip current statement and a high surf advisory, both in effect until Friday evening, Aug. 22; a wind advisory in effect from Thursday morning, Aug. 21 to midnight Friday, Aug. 22; and a coastal flood warning in effect from 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20 until 2 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 23.

Updated 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 19:

Area beaches remain restricted in response to high tides, big waves and strong rip currents in advance of Hurricane Erin slowly making its way up the East Coast.

Beaches in Dewey and Rehoboth are open, but ocean access is closed.

Lewes beaches remain open. People were in the water at 11:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued three hazardous weather advisories: A rip current advisory through Wednesday evening, Aug. 20; a coastal flood advisory in effect until 10 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 19; and a high surf advisory from 6 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20, to 6 a.m., Friday, Aug. 21.

For the high surf advisory, large breaking waves of up to 8 feet are expected in the surf zone on Wednesday and 6 to 10 feet expected on Thursday.

Once the storm passes through, the NWS is calling for a few straight days of sun, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s.

Original story from Aug. 18:

The beaches in Dewey and Rehoboth were closed by early afternoon, Aug. 18, due to high winds and rough surf.

Savannah and Johnnie Walker beaches, which are on the bay and thus don’t face the same threat of rip currents, remain open with lifeguards on duty.

The closures come ahead of Hurricane Erin, which is set to impact coastal Delaware later this week. Dangerous rip currents and high winds are expected.