Escaping the heat at the beaches this weekend? What to know about access, storm damage

Emily Lytle, Delaware News Journal
·1 min read

If visiting the Delaware beaches this weekend, you may need to be prepared to get your feet a little wet.

After the nor'easter hit earlier this month, many of the beaches from Lewes to Bethany Beach are significantly narrower during high tide and still showing some damage at dune crossings.

The beaches are open and ready to welcome visitors – especially as the temperatures soar to 90 degrees this weekend – but there are a few things you may want to know before you go.

In Rehoboth Beach, seven of the city’s 38 dune crossings are closed for safety reasons, according to a city Facebook post on Thursday. All of the closed crossings are on the north end of the beach toward the Henlopen Hotel.

Dune fences in Rehoboth Beach are being repaired or replaced following a coastal storm May 7 and 8, 2022.
Dune fences in Rehoboth Beach are being repaired or replaced following a coastal storm May 7 and 8, 2022.

The city is working with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to bring in the sand, equipment and labor necessary to repair these crossings.

Deauville Beach is still open and accessible. A wheelchair-accessible crossing is available at Laurel Street, where additional mats have been installed on the beach for easier wheelchair access.

The beaches in Lewes and Dewey Beach are also open, but people may notice some similar drop-offs or differences in the shoreline during high and low tide.

Bethany Beach, one of the hardest-hit areas, reported in a Facebook post Tuesdaythat only seven of its dune crossings were open after the storm.

Visitors should also know that most beaches do not start staffing lifeguards until Memorial Day weekend.

SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK: Why there will be no lifeguards at Lewes beaches this summer

READ MORE: Delaware begins restoring beach access following bad storms, South Bethany 'worst hit'

BEACH DAMAGE: Access to Dewey Beach closed after storm causes 'dangerous conditions'

Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Heading to the Delaware beaches? What to expect after storm damage