93°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
17%
35
Virginia Beach County, VA · Atlantic Ocean
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Atlantic Ave & 17th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
The Atlantic resort strip running from Rudee Inlet to 42nd Street, anchored by a 3-mile concrete boardwalk with a parallel bike path. Dense with hotels, restaurants, and summer events; lifeguarded daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 81°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Weather
- 93°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
Water
- 81°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — severe thunderstorm watch issued july 18 at 2:14pm edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws wakefield va
20 /100
skip
0 Swim
49 Sunbathe
28 Walk
2 Fish
29 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 12:44PM EDT until July 19 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft expected. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Parramore Island to Cape Charles Light VA out 20 NM, Coastal Waters from Cape Charles Light to Virginia-North Carolina border out 20 NM and Coastal waters from NC VA border to Currituck Beach Light NC out 20 NM. * WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 7 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Weather alert in effect
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 2:14PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Atmosphere
Air Temp
93°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind
14 mph
SW
Rain
17%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
89°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Water
Water Temp
81°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
13s · ESE swell
Water Quality
Above threshold
6,488 cfu/100mL · E. coli
USGS · sampled 5w ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:58 AM
Sunset
8:21 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:52 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 12:02 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 6:16 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:11 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 6:39 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 12:52 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 7:14 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:56 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 7:23 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:42 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 8:14 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:44 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 8:08 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:37 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 9:18 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:40 AM | High | 2.4 ft |
| 8:56 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 3:37 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 10:18 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:47 AM | High | 2.3 ft |
| 9:47 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 4:32 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 11:12 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:48 AM | High | 2.3 ft |
| 10:37 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 5:21 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8638999, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
89°
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
64%
16
84°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
49%
31
89°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
60%
16
87°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
84%
3
81°
Chance Rain Showers
47%
56
81°
Chance Rain Showers
28%
69
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 14 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 81°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 93°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
3:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Minor
10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Major
3:50 PM - 5:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid only in peak season. City-run garages and surface lots along Atlantic Ave and Pacific Ave charge a flat daily rate on summer weekends and event days, hourly otherwise. Use the VB Go app for real-time availability. Weekend lots fill by mid-morning.
Dogs
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend: dogs banned from sand and water between Rudee Loop and 42nd Street; leashed dogs allowed on the Boardwalk 6 a.m.–7 p.m. Off-season: dogs allowed on the beach off-leash and on the Boardwalk leashed anytime.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking in season.
Address
Atlantic Ave & 17th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Virginia Beach Oceanfront today?
Virginia Beach Oceanfront 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 Virginia Beach Oceanfront dog-friendly?
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend: dogs banned from sand and water between Rudee Loop and 42nd Street; leashed dogs allowed on the Boardwalk 6 a.m.–7 p.m. Off-season: dogs allowed on the beach off-leash and on the Boardwalk leashed anytime.
Is there an entry fee at Virginia Beach Oceanfront?
Entry to Virginia Beach Oceanfront is free.
Are there lifeguards at Virginia Beach Oceanfront?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Virginia Beach Oceanfront during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Virginia Beach Oceanfront?
Amenities at Virginia Beach Oceanfront include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, boardwalk, bike rentals, concessions, fishing pier.
When is the water warmest at Virginia Beach Oceanfront?
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 Virginia Beach Oceanfront located?
Virginia Beach Oceanfront is in Virginia Beach County, VA, at Atlantic Ave & 17th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS