Should you go beach the day after rain?

Near areas with high coastal population, it is generally recommended to wait 72 hours after heavy rain before swimming. This is because runoff from land can carry lots of nasty germs into the ocean. After 72 hours, most of those germs are either dead or have diffused enough to not be an issue.



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Common culprits leading to beach closures and advisories include excessive rainwater that carries pollution from storm drains (like motor oil, pet waste, pesticides, trash, and pathogens) to recreational waters; “red tides” and other harmful algal blooms; and sewage and chemical spills from known sources.

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The loss of sand causes the beach to become narrower and lower in elevation (Figure 1). Storm waves carry the sand offshore, depositing and storing the sediment in large sandbars. In weeks and months following the storm, the sand is returned to the beach by calm-weather waves.

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Daytime is the safest time for ocean swimming. Visibility is low in early morning hours and at dusk, and predatory animals in the water tend to move closer to shore at night. What to do during severe weather. If you see an approaching storm, it's best to get out of the water until the storm subsides.

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