Suffolk County Issues Bathing Advisory for 64 Beaches

Suffolk County issued a bathing advisory Tuesday for 64 beaches across the county, urging residents to stay out of the water following recent rainfall that can wash contaminants into coastal waters. The advisory, released by Suffolk County Government on June 23, 2026, cited rainfall-related causes. Affected beaches span multiple communities, including locations in East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor, among others. Eagle Dock Community Beach in Cold Spring Harbor was listed among the affected sites. Contamination advisories of this type are typically issued when stormwater runoff raises bacterial counts in nearshore waters to levels that pose a health risk to swimmers.

The county did not specify in the release when the affected beaches would be cleared for bathing.

Residents with questions were directed to contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. The county's contact for the release was Ryan DeFelippis, reachable at 631-854-0095.

The advisory comes as Suffolk County is experiencing a prolonged drought. According to earlier reports in this news cycle, Long Island recorded only 0.47 inches of rain in June through June 21, against a normal of 3.04 inches — meaning the rainfall that did fall was concentrated enough to trigger runoff concerns even amid an otherwise dry stretch. Residents are advised to check the Suffolk County website for updates on beach status before visiting any of the 64 affected locations.

No timeline for lifting the advisory was provided in the county's announcement.