VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Strong surf is keeping swimmers out of the Atlantic today, but calmer seas and sunshine arrive Tuesday. Dangerous rip currents remain the biggest threat through Monday evening, with officials urging residents and visitors to stay out of the water.
According to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, waves of 2 to 4 feet are driving strong currents along Virginia Beach, Accomack and Northampton counties, as well as Eastern Currituck County, North Carolina. These conditions can overpower even strong swimmers, sweeping them offshore or slamming them into shallow sandbars. The advice is clear: stay on the sand until seas settle.
Travelers should also prepare for changing weather inland. Monday may bring a stray thunderstorm after 2 p.m., but skies clear overnight. By Tuesday, sunshine returns with highs near 79. Conditions remain stable for much of the week, setting up a stretch of dry, pleasant weather as Labor Day weekend approaches.
Drivers heading toward Oceanfront, Shore Drive, and Route 60 should expect heavy beach traffic later this week as holiday crowds arrive. With a run of sunny, mid- to upper-70s afternoons, Labor Day travelers can expect excellent conditions for barbecues, parades, and beach outings once rip currents subside.
Forecasters say rip current risks should diminish by Tuesday, with no hazardous weather expected through the weekend. Another update will be issued if storm systems shift closer to the coast.
Five Day Forecast for Virginia Beach, VA
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 79, north winds 7–11 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, high 77, low 65.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, high 78, low 68.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, high 79, low 68.
- Saturday (Labor Day Weekend Kickoff): Sunny, high 82.
