Avoid Swimming, Surfing for 72 Hours: General Rain Advisory for San Diego Coastal Waters

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — A general rain advisory went into effect Tuesday for the bays and beaches of San Diego County, including the Coronado shoreline, due to contamination by urban runoff following rain.

The County Department of Environmental Health issues general rain advisories — recommending that activities such as swimming, surfing and diving be avoided for 72 hours — when rainfall equal to or greater than 0.20 inch is received in coastal or valley areas of San Diego County.

Over a 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported, the wet atmospheric system brought 0.8 of an inch of moisture to the Palomar Mountain area; 0.76 at Birch Hill; 0.71 in Descanso; 0.64 in Alpine; 0.6 in Julian; 0.56 at Lake Cuyamaca in Pine Valley; 0.45 at Brown Field airport; 0.3 in El Cajon; 0.29 in Chula Vista; and 0.28 in La Mesa.

Other precipitation totals included 0.2 of an inch in San Ysidro; 0.16 in Fallbrook, the Lake Murray neighborhood, Ramona and Rancho Bernardo; 0.14 in Oceanside; 0.13 in Carlsbad, Kearny Mesa, Point Loma and Poway; 0.12 in Bonsall, Serra Mesa and Valley Center; 0.11 in City Heights and Mission Valley; and 0.08 in Elfin Forest and at Miramar Lake.

The modest precipitation was mostly courtesy of former Hurricane Paine, reduced to a tropical depression off the coast of northern Mexico and destined to expire Wednesday in the Gulf of California, according to the NWS.

Swimmers, surfers and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.

The advisory applies to beaches from San Onofre State Beach south to Border Field, including Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. While many coastal outlets are posted with permanent metal warning signs, additional temporary signs are not posted for general advisories.

Additionally, the ocean shoreline from the U.S.-Mexico border to the north end of the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge (south end of Seacoast Drive), including Border Field State Park is closed. Avoid water contact in the closure area due to sewage-contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River, county officials say.

Updates about water conditions can be found at Sdbeachinfo.com or by calling 619-338-2073.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

Image via Myukie, Wikimedia, public domain