Due to the heavy rains over the weekend and the promise of more to follow later in the week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has extended a rain advisory warning people to stay out of ocean waters until Friday. Feb. 1 at 7 a.m.
That is because discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers that lead to the ocean carry run-off from urban and wilderness areas containing high levels of bacteria and other germs. The risk is elevated at all beach areas but is highest where the storm drains and creeks enter the ocean.
Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county’s beach closure hotline, (800) 525-5662. Information is also available online at the county’s Web site, www.lapublichealth.org/beach.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 30, 2008. Read the original PDF.