91°
Mostly Sunny
5%
65
Dare County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Nags Head Beach
S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959
The heart of the Outer Banks — 11 miles of wide Atlantic sand fronted by Beach Road. Soundside one block back, Jockey's Ridge State Park (the largest natural sand dunes on the East Coast) is two miles inland. Endless beach-cottage rentals, fishing piers every couple of miles, classic OBX vacation in concentrated form.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 86°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. South wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3am and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 80. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Weather
- 91°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- 21 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — heat advisory issued july 18 at 1:34am edt until july 18 at 8:00pm edt by nws newport/morehead city nc
47 /100
ok
34 Swim
51 Sunbathe
73 Walk
40 Fish
71 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 1.2 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Weather alert in effect
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:34AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Atmosphere
Air Temp
91°F
Partly Cloudy and Windy
Wind
21 mph
S
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
93°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
SW swell
Barometer
29.97 inHg
1015 hPa
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:59 AM
Sunset
8:17 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:40 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 12:02 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 6:31 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:17 AM | High | 1.2 ft |
| 7:26 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 12:59 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 7:28 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:09 AM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 8:10 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 1:57 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 8:25 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:06 AM | High | 1.0 ft |
| 8:54 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:54 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 9:24 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:06 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 9:38 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 3:50 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 10:25 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:08 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 10:25 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 4:45 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 11:27 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:05 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 11:13 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 5:36 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8652587, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
93°
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
60%
7
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
80%
15
93°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
64%
3
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
67%
4
82°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
72%
15
82°
Chance Rain Showers
47%
58
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 21 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 91°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Major
3:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Minor
10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Major
3:50 PM - 5:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free public lots and ocean-side accesses every few blocks along NC-12. Some lots fill by mid-morning on summer weekends.
Dogs
Dogs allowed year-round on a leash (max 10 ft). No off-leash voice-control window; owners must clean up.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Nags Head Beach today?
Nags Head Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Nags Head Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs allowed year-round on a leash (max 10 ft). No off-leash voice-control window; owners must clean up.
Is there an entry fee at Nags Head Beach?
Entry to Nags Head Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Nags Head Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Nags Head Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Nags Head Beach?
Amenities at Nags Head Beach include lifeguards, public restrooms at major accesses, fishing piers, rentals nearby.
When is the water warmest at Nags Head Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Nags Head Beach located?
Nags Head Beach is in Dare County, NC, at S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS