After a one-day reprieve, ocean access is again closed in Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany beaches due to rough surf and rip tides.
Guarded beaches at Cape Henlopen State Park also are closed to swimmers, as are all drive-on crossovers. You can still walk on all beaches closed to swimmers.
The view from the near end of the jetty on the Indian River Inlet’s north side beach Aug. 19, 2025.
Hurricane Erin is nearing in the Atlantic and was 260 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at 11 a.m. Aug. 21. The storm is not expected to make landfall but instead make a northeast turn.
Southern Delaware is under a high risk for rip tides and under a coastal flood warning. The National Weather Service is predicting tropical storm-force winds and severe beach erosion for the area, with wave heights of 10 to 17 feet.
Live webcams: See what the Delaware beaches look like right now
Most Delaware beaches closed to swimmers due to rough conditions Aug. 18 and 19, but reopened Aug. 20. Rehoboth Beach Patrol Captain Jeff Giles urged people not to swim.
“Please, don’t put the lifeguards in this position, you are putting the lives of the rescuers at risk,” he said.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: No swimming at Delaware beaches due to Hurricane Erin
