SANTA MONICA, CA — Beachgoers heading to Santa Monica over Labor Day weekend are being warned to stay out of the ocean around Santa Monica Pier because of elevated bacteria levels, while forecasters are also warning of potentially dangerous ocean conditions along the Southern California coast over the holiday.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters within 100 yards up and down the coast from Santa Monica Pier after recent water samples showed bacterial levels exceeding state health standards.
The county said the elevated bacteria levels may increase the risk of illness. The warning was still in effect in the county's latest ocean water advisory, issued Tuesday. It applies only to the stretch of water extending 100 yards on either side of the Pier and not to Santa Monica Beach as a whole.
It is also a water-use warning, not a beach closure.
The warning comes days before the Labor Day weekend, when the National Weather Service is expecting increasingly hazardous conditions along parts of the Southern California coast.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service's Los Angeles/Oxnard office said south-to-southeast swells generated by tropical activity to the south are expected to increase from Friday through Tuesday, with Sunday and Monday currently appearing to be the most likely window for peak swell.
The National Weather Service said there is a high chance of larger waves and strong rip currents affecting holiday beachgoers and warned that very strong rip currents are possible as the swell builds.
Forecasters are advising anyone planning a trip to the beach to choose one with lifeguards on duty, stay back from the water's edge, stay off rocks and jetties and swim near a lifeguard.
Evening high tides are also expected to reach around 7 feet during portions of the holiday weekend, increasing the possibility of coastal flooding and significant beach erosion in vulnerable low-lying areas if elevated surf coincides with high tide.
The National Weather Service identified Avalon, the Alamitos Peninsula in Long Beach, Malibu and Point Mugu among the areas most susceptible to the combination of elevated surf and high tides. Santa Monica was not specifically identified among those areas.
Forecasters stressed that the outlook remains subject to change depending on the track of tropical system Marie.
The bacteria problem around Santa Monica Pier also predates Tuesday's advisory. Los Angeles County Public Health has repeatedly included the Pier in water-use warnings during recent weeks, including advisories issued during July and August.
Santa Monica Pier was one of six locations included in the county's Sept. 1 warning. The others were Redondo Beach Pier, Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove, Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.
Public Health lifts warnings when subsequent testing shows bacteria levels have returned to within state standards.
Beachgoers can check current water-quality warnings and closures through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's beach water quality program here.
The latest National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard forecasts and coastal hazard information are available at weather.gov/lox/
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