VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — When visiting the beach such as down at the Oceanfront, you may notice different-colored flags that are posted. Each one has an important meaning:
- Blue Flag: The water is pure, meets environmental standards, and is safe to be in.
- Red Flag: That means swimming is prohibited and dangerous.
- Green Flag: Conditions are calm and it is safe to swim.
- Yellow Flag: That means there is a medium hazard. Experts say you should swim with caution if this flag is flying.
- Purple Flag: This indicates dangerous marine life such as jellyfish, stingrays, and sea snakes. It does not mean there are sharks in the water.
- Double Red Flag: The water is closed to the public and you should not be in the water at all.
- Black Ball Flag: The flag with a black dot means no surfing or watercraft should be used.
- Red Flag Over Yellow Flag: This means lifeguards are in the area and it's safe to swim.
If you don't see the flags or want to prepare for your beach trip early, you can text "BEACH" to 67283 to get real-time beach status updates sent straight to your phone. This is for beaches located in Virginia Beach.