is said to be about 1:5. Through the mid-1990s several homes were lost to the Atlantic, but sand replenishment efforts have been successful in restoring the beach. At one time it was not uncommon to see a Banker Horse which had roamed too far north. The horses were known to cause problems eating vegetation from yards, and occasionally were struck by vehicles. More fences were built south of the Virginia/North Carolina border to help curb this problem in recent years. Major League Baseball third baseman Ryan Zimmerman grew up in Sandbridge, and currently owns a vacation home there. Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell owns two properties in Sandbridge. Weather Sandbridge has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with long, hot summers and short, cool winters. Precipitation peaks during summer due to thunderstorm activity. Snowfall is rare. The Outer Banks has unusual weather patterns due to its unique geographical location. As the Currituck Banks Peninsula juts out from the eastern seaboard into the Atlantic, Sandbridge has a predisposition to be affected by hurricanes, Nor'easters (usually in the form of rain, and rarely snow or mixed precipitation), and other ocean-driven storms. The winters are typically milder than in inland areas, with January lows averaging and highs of , and is more frequently overcast than in the summer. However, the exposure of the Outer Banks makes it prone to higher winds, often causing wind chills to make the apparent temperature as cold as the inland areas. Although snow is possible, averaging annually, there are many times when years pass between snowfalls. The summer months average from lows of to highs of , with water temperatures rising from to around by August. The spring and fall are typically milder seasons. The fall and winter are usually warmer than areas inland, while the spring and the summer are often slightly cooler due to the moderating effects of being surrounded by water. Sandbridge Beach Sandbridge Beach () is in the southern part of the city of Virginia Beach. The beach is about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometres) in length, north to south. Its location is like that of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, with the Back Bay of the Currituck Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Because of this, it is often referred to as "The Outer Banks of Virginia". Similar to North Carolina's Outer Banks, Sandbridge Beach is occasionally prone to