One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Don't go into the ocean! LA County beaches under an advisory thanks to winter storm
Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro remains closed until further notice due to 100,000 gallons of sewage spilling.
(
Christina House
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Image
)
Topline:
All L.A. County beaches are under an advisory until Monday, public health officials announced this week. It's in response to the historic winter storm. Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro remains closed until further notice after 100,000 gallons of sewage was discharged into the water and onto the sand.
Why avoid water? Officials are also warning residents to stay away from free-flowing water, especially near storm drains, creeks and rivers that could be contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash and other health hazards following rainfall. The advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. Monday.
Details on the sewage: The sewage discharge came from a manhole in Carson, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in an X post. L.A. County Public Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Is this unusual? Similar spills have happened near San Pedro following major storms. Last year, millions of gallons of untreated sewage leaked into the Dominguez Channel, the Compton Creek, and in the city of Commerce following a major storm.
Go deeper … into LAist’s up-to-date storm coverage.
Corrected December 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM PST
A previous version of this story incorrectly reported on beach closures. It was an advisory.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
