Sign In Register

Dewey Beach, DE

Full City Profile · Delaware · Sussex County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
328 Population 994/sq mi density
$107,917 Median Income $95,035 per capita
$871,400 Home Value $1,052,730 Zillow
$1,175 Median Rent 23.8% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
1,777 Violent Crime/100K 4,061 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.9 / 5.0
$107,917 median income, 0.9% unemployment
C
Affordability
2.1 / 5.0
$871,400 home value, $1,175/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,777 violent crimes/100K (368% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
74.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Dewey Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.3 inches. The area receives 10.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average58.5°F
8% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation7 ft (2 m)
Area0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
Population Density994/sq mi
Coordinates38.6957°N, 75.0752°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySussex County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
34 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.3"
24% above US avg
Snowfall 10.5"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.21"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.15"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0463 ppm
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.20 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score94.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability70.4 / 100
Community Resilience59.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

6 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 98 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 111 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 148 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 139 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 74 km
Feb 26, 1993 2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey M2.5 132 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

10 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 2 184 km
2012 Sandy Category 2 169 km
2011 Irene Category 1 67 km
2010 Earl Category 1 276 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 229 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 232 km
1993 Emily Category 3 215 km
1991 Bob Category 3 165 km
1986 Charley Category 1 145 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 60 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

131 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 62 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 49 km 1
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 65 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 72 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 59 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 47 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 83 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 53 km 0
May 10, 1990 EF2 87 km 0
Jul 21, 1987 EF2 84 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 45 km 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 77 km 2
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 51 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 13, 1975 EF2 90 km 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 28 km 0
Jul 30, 1971 EF2 94 km 0
Nov 4, 1970 EF2 92 km 0
Jan 27, 1967 EF2 57 km 0
May 6, 1956 EF2 65 km 0
Aug 12, 1955 EF2 18 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 123 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 88 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 93 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 92 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 89 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 85 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 86 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 91 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 91 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 91 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 85 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 85 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 86 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 85 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 86 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 94 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 93 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 29 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 69 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 95 km
2014 RAILROAD 1,431 70 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 3.7 in
February 37°F (3°C) 3.2 in Coldest, Driest
March 44°F (7°C) 4.1 in
April 53°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 63°F (17°C) 3.7 in
June 71°F (22°C) 3.3 in
July 79°F (26°C) 3.6 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.2 in Wettest
September 69°F (21°C) 3.5 in
October 58°F (15°C) 3.3 in
November 49°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 40°F (4°C) 3.6 in

Dewey Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (3.2").

View full weather details →