Bacteria Advisory Closes 83 Long Island Beaches After Rain

Health officials in Nassau and Suffolk counties issued a swimming advisory Monday for 83 beaches across Long Island's North and South shores after heavy rainfall drove stormwater runoff into coastal waters, raising concerns about elevated bacteria levels. The advisory covers 20 Nassau County beaches and 63 Suffolk County beaches, officials said. Among the Suffolk locations placed under the advisory are beaches in Huntington, Northport, Bay Shore, Amityville, East Islip, Islip, Sag Harbor, Sayville, Centerport and Ronkonkoma, among other communities. Health officials in both counties said the advisories are a precautionary measure in areas affected by runoff following the recent rainfall. Officials recommended that residents avoid swimming and any contact with the water until conditions improve. Beaches are expected to clear after two successive tidal cycles, or at least 24 hours after rainfall ends, officials said. Nassau County's affected locations include beaches in Bayville, East Rockaway, Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing, Island Park, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Massapequa, Oyster Bay, Port Washington and Sea Cliff. Suffolk County's advisory extends to beaches in communities including Asharoken, Bayport, Blue Point, Brightwaters, Cold Spring Harbor, Copiague, Eatons Neck, Lloyd Harbor, Miller Place, Nissequogue, Old Field, Rocky Point, Setauket-East Setauket and Shoreham, among others. Officials did not specify when the advisories would be lifted, noting that clearance depends on tidal and weather conditions following the rain.