Virginia Beach County, VA · Atlantic Ocean

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456

A 9,250-acre USFWS refuge south of Sandbridge with roughly 3 miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach backed by dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Managed for migratory waterfowl — the northernmost mile is closed to recreation year-round. No lifeguards, no swimming amenities; a walk-on wildlife refuge, not a resort beach.

Today's Conditions

Skip the beach today.

72% rain · Thunderstorms · NWS alert active

Full NWS forecast for Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. East wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Weather

80°F air — ideal beach weather
72% rain — wet day — beach day is off

Water

80°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 12 at 6:58am edt until july 14 at 12:00am edt by nws wakefield va

12 /100

skip

0 Swim

29 Sunbathe

0 Walk

23 Photo

Best for sunbathing today

Small Craft Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued July 12 at 6:58AM EDT until July 14 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

NWS · In effect through Jul 14, 4:00 AM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...East winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt and seas 4 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE...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 10 PM this evening to midnight EDT Monday night. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

80°F

Cloudy

Wind

8 to 14 mph

Rain

72%

Today

UV Peak

1 Low

Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~200m

Burn-free before 10 AM & after 12 PM

Tomorrow

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Water

Water Temp

80°F

Swimming weather

Next High Tide

6:58 PM

4.1 ft · in 3.8h

Wave Height

1.6 ft

11s · ESE swell

Water Quality

Clean

25 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform

USGS · sampled 6w ago

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

5:54 AM

Sunset

8:23 PM

Moon · 5%

Waning Crescent

Spring tides — bigger range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
12:42 AM	Low	-0.0 ft
6:24 AM	High	2.7 ft
12:26 PM	Low	-0.2 ft
6:58 PM	High	4.1 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:43 AM	Low	-0.2 ft
7:28 AM	High	2.9 ft
1:29 PM	Low	-0.3 ft
7:57 PM	High	4.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:36 AM	Low	-0.3 ft
8:26 AM	High	3.1 ft
2:27 PM	Low	-0.4 ft
8:51 PM	High	4.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:26 AM	Low	-0.4 ft
9:21 AM	High	3.3 ft
3:22 PM	Low	-0.3 ft
9:43 PM	High	4.1 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:14 AM	Low	-0.4 ft
10:15 AM	High	3.4 ft
4:17 PM	Low	-0.2 ft
10:33 PM	High	3.9 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:04 AM	Low	-0.3 ft
11:10 AM	High	3.4 ft
5:16 PM	Low	-0.0 ft
11:23 PM	High	3.6 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:52 AM	Low	-0.2 ft
12:02 PM	High	3.4 ft
6:16 PM	Low	0.2 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8638999, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jul 12

80°

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

72%

Mon Jul 13

80°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

49%

Tue Jul 14

81°

Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

29%

Wed Jul 15

87°

Sunny

Thu Jul 16

90°

Sunny

Fri Jul 17

89°

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

18%

Sat Jul 18

89°

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

28%

What to Bring Today

recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 8 to 14 mph wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 80°F
recommended Rain cover + dry bag 72% chance of rain

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Beach Info

Parking

Refuge parking lot at the visitor contact station off Sandpiper Rd; free with paid entry. Small lot; fills on spring/fall weekends and peak migration days.

Dogs

Pets prohibited year-round (since April 1, 2011). Service animals excepted.

Entry Fee

$5/vehicle Apr 1 – Oct 31; free Nov 1 – Mar 31. Federal interagency passes (America the Beautiful) accepted.

Address

4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Amenities

restroomspicnic area

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge today?

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge dog-friendly?

Pets prohibited year-round (since April 1, 2011). Service animals excepted.

Is there an entry fee at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?

$5/vehicle Apr 1 – Oct 31; free Nov 1 – Mar 31. Federal interagency passes (America the Beautiful) accepted.

Are there lifeguards at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?

No lifeguards are stationed at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?

Amenities at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge include restrooms, picnic area.

When is the water warmest at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?

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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge located?

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Virginia Beach County, VA, at 4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.