The LA County beach advisory now covers every county beach through at least Monday, Nov. 16, 2026. The Department of Public Health extended it after the latest round of rain and says swimmers, surfers and waders should stay out of the ocean until it ends.
What the LA County beach advisory says
The county’s beach water quality page posted the extension on Nov. 13. The page lists the advisory as running until 8 a.m. on Nov. 16 in its headline, but its notice text says 3 p.m. that day. So the safest plan is to treat Monday afternoon as the earliest end time.
The county also warns that it may extend the advisory again if more rain falls. Because storms are still possible, the end time can move. The county posts changes on its website and on a 24-hour hotline at 800-525-5662.
Why rain makes the ocean unsafe
Rain washes trash, animal waste, chemicals and bacteria off streets and hillsides. Then storm drains, creeks and rivers carry that runoff to the shoreline. As a result, bacteria counts can climb sharply during and after a storm.
Levels often stay high for up to three days, depending on how hard it rained and how much runoff reached the water. For that reason, the county asks people to avoid water contact for 72 hours after significant rain. The risk is highest near flowing storm drains, creeks and river mouths, and the county says children and older adults are most likely to get sick.
What you can do this weekend
You can still walk the sand, but keep out of the water, and keep dogs out too. Runoff that pools on the beach can also carry bacteria, so avoid standing water. Check the hotline or the county page before you go, because conditions can change overnight.
This is the second rain advisory in about three weeks. We covered the October advisory that ran to Oct. 26, and our earlier rain outlook for Nov. 13-16 explained the weather behind this one. For more local health coverage, see our health and sports hub.
What happens next depends on the weather. If no more rain falls, the advisory should lapse on Monday. If it does rain, the 72-hour clock restarts, and the county will post a new end date.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor if you develop symptoms after contact with ocean water.