Beachgoers Looking For A Respite From Brutal Heat Warned About High Ocean Bacteria Levels

LOS ANGELES, CA — High bacteria levels prompted public health officials on Wednesday to warn against getting in the water at 16 Los Angeles County beaches.

The LA County Department of Public Health collects samples weekly from various sites year-round to test and monitor bacteria levels and issues warnings when levels exceed health standards.

This week, officials warned that swimming in the water at the following beaches may cause illness:

• Leo Carrillo State Beach (100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms)
• Ballona Creek at Dockweiler State Beach (near Dockweiler Tower 40, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek)
• Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
• Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove
• Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach
• Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach (100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps)
• Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach
• Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach
• Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove (100 yards up and down the coast from the Paradise Cove Pier)
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
• Trancas Creek at Zuma Beach (100 yards up and down the coast from the creek)
• Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu (100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon)
• Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach (100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms)
• Santa Monica Beach (100 yards up and down the coast from the pier)
• Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey

The testing comes as hordes of people are expected to head to the beach amid a record-breaking heat wave that's been baking the Antelope Valley and other parts of Los Angeles County for days.

Temperatures are expected reach as high as 112 degrees in some parts of the Southland Thursday.

An excessive heat warning is in place until 9 p.m. Saturday in the Antelope Valley, the 5 Freeway corridor, western San Gabriel Mountains and 14 Freeway corridor.

Information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county's beach closure hotline at 800- 525-5662. A map of impacted locations and more information is available at the public health department's website.

City News Service contributed to this report.