Millions of Americans heading to the shore for the holiday weekend are encountering warning signs instead of waves.
From New England to California, public health officials have flagged dozens of beaches for high levels of fecal bacteria, urging swimmers to stay out of the water.
The advisories, affecting coastal stretches in Massachusetts, New York, California and even Hawaii, cite unsafe concentrations of E. coli and enterococci, bacteria linked to sewage and storm runoff. Exposure can cause stomach illness, skin rashes and ear infections, officials warn.
The problem is not new.
A recent Environment America report found that 61% of U.S. beaches recorded at least one day of unsafe bacterial levels last year, with hundreds exceeding safe thresholds on a quarter of the days they were tested. Aging sewage systems, heavy rains and rapid coastal development continue to strain water quality.
Local authorities recommend avoiding swimming for at least 72 hours after storms, when runoff is most severe. Children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of illness.
The closures underscore a national challenge: protecting recreational waters while balancing public demand. Health experts say without significant investment in infrastructure, the cycle of advisories and closures is unlikely to end.
So what beaches are closed?
Northeast & East Coast: Keyes Memorial Beach in Hyannis, Massachusetts (Cape Cod) is closed for public safety. Benjamin’s Beach, Bay Shore, New York, on Long Island has also been shut down. Beaches along the coast from Crystal River, Florida, to Ogunquit, Maine are under advisories due to risk of waterborne illness.
Mid-Atlantic: In North Carolina, five beaches have posted warnings following elevated bacteria readings, though no full closures have been confirmed.
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