The horseshoe crabs are mating on the bays, diamondback terrapins are coming ashore to lay eggs and tourists are converging on Coastal Highway.
Summer is near at the Delaware beaches.
The weather is finally starting to feel like it, too. If you had your beach gear ready to go last Saturday and were bummed to find the day was cold and gray, you weren’t the only one. Happily, the second weekend in June looks sunny and warm, but also a little hazy. Read more about that below.
Delaware Online/The News Journal publishes a guide to the Delaware beaches every week. Weather, beach closures, events – it’s all here for visitors and locals alike throughout the summer.
Here’s what you need to know for the weekend of June 10 and 11.
Weather and air quality
Weather is predicted to be sunny to partly sunny and in the mid- to upper 70s Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. With school letting out, the faintest ray of sunshine is sure to prompt many to head to the Delaware beaches, so be prepared to spend some time looking for parking and maybe even a decent swath of empty sand.
More:Traveling Canadian wildfire smoke shows Delaware can’t hide from climate crisis reality
Weather forecasts are always subject to change, so make sure to check again before heading out this weekend.
There’s something else to consider this weekend, something that’s coming from nowhere near Delaware, bringing hazy skies and a noticeable burning smell to the area.
The Canadian wildfires caused Sussex Couty to have some of the worst air quality in the country Wednesday, and Thursday is expected to be the same. It’s unhealthy for sensitive groups to be outside when particulate levels reach a certain point.
Don’t panic. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control expects air quality to improve as the week goes on, but you’ll want to keep abreast if you’re headed to the beaches.
Delaware Online will have all the updates, so check back frequently.
Traffic
You can always count on increased traffic from Memorial Day on at the Delaware beaches, but this weekend has an added factor: the Ocean City, Maryland, Air Show.
Expect traffic to be heavy on Route 1, Route 113, Route 404 and just about everywhere starting Friday night, and especially just before after the show, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re going to the beach, we’d recommend going early and leaving late. Download a playlist or a podcast in case you get stuck in traffic.
More:Everything you need to know about the 2023 Ocean City Air Show
All those people are going to want to eat, shop and be entertained, too, so be kind your service workers.
Beach replenishment
The Delaware beaches are in the process of being replenished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with sand being dredged from offshore and piped onshore. Rehoboth Beach was completed in May and Dewey Beach was completed Thursday.
Work is underway at Fenwick Island and estimated to be completed around June 17, according to Corps spokesman Stephen Rochette.
Sand replenishment in Bethany Beach will begin as soon as tomorrow and is expected to be completed in late June.
Portions of Fenwick and Bethany beaches will be closed as they are replenished.
Work in South Bethany Beach is estimated to begin in mid-June and finish in early July, Rochette said.
Weather, sea conditions and mechanical issues can all change the timeline of beach replenishment. More information is available here.
Things to do
This guide is for the Delaware beaches, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend the Ocean City Air Show, just south of the state line. It’s an impressive, unique and super-fun experience if you’re willing to battle the crowds. Okay, back to Delaware.
More:Via Sophia by the Sea, upscale Italian restaurant, to open in Bethany Beach hotel
If you’re in the area Friday night, check out the West Side Creative Market at 19826 Central St. in Rehoboth Beach from 5 to 9 p.m. The open-air market, hosted by the Developing Artist Coallition, features 20 local artist vendors, a bar and food trucks, DIY art activities and live music.
Who doesn’t want to “Party Like it’s 793”? The 2023 Mead, Metal, and Viking Festival will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Brimming Horn Meadery in Lewes. It’s located at 28615 Lewes Georgetown Hwy. and will have music, games, historic reenactors and food.
Surf fishing
You can walk on and surf-fish any Delaware State Parks beach with only a fishing license, but to drive on, you need a surf-fishing permit, which are available at most state park offices. Now, if you want to drive on on a weekend or holiday, you also need a reservation.
More:Longtime Bethany Beach Police Chief Michael Redmon on leave following May DUI charge
After the popularity of the Delaware drive-on beaches surged during the pandemic, the Department of Natural Resources wanted to make the process easier and more efficient, so this year, they’re piloting a online reservation system for the busiest surf-fishing days.
The system is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on weekends and holidays. Saturday reservations become available Tuesday and Sunday reservations on Wednesday. Holiday reservations go on sale the Thursday before the holiday. Reservations are $4 per day, first-come, first-serve, and you must print them out to display in your vehicle.
If you haven’t made a reservation yet, there’s still a decent chance you can get a spot. The Delaware drive-on beaches haven’t totally sold out since the system took effect mid-May, though some individual beaches have.
“The most popular locations are Cape Henlopen State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park 3R’s,” department spokesman Michael Globetti said. “When these two locations fill to capacity, anglers should look at other state parks drive-on surf fishing locations that have availability.”
You can see which beaches have availability at any time using the online reservation system.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
