The Westchester County Department of Health shut down Coveleigh Club Beach in Rye on Friday, Aug. 21, after 3.28 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, the largest single rainfall event to trigger a beach closure this summer.

The closure, which also affects beaches in Mamaroneck and New Rochelle, has no fixed end date. The DOH said the beach at 459 Stuyvesant Ave. will remain closed through the weekend and until further notice. Under the DOH's tiered system, rainfall exceeding 2 inches triggers a closure with no guaranteed reopening, meaning the beach cannot reopen until the health department grants clearance.

That makes this shutdown different from the four previous closures this summer, all of which came with fixed timelines.

A summer of closures

Coveleigh Club members have watched their beach access disappear repeatedly since early July:

  • July 7–8: Closed two days after 1.96 inches of rain
  • July 19–20: Closed two days after more than 1.8 inches on Saturday, July 18
  • July 22: Closed one day after 0.73 inches
  • Aug. 4–5: Closed two days after 1.76 inches
  • Aug. 21–?: Closed indefinitely after 3.28 inches

Each closure follows the same mechanism. Heavy rain pushes stormwater through drainage outfalls near the beach and into Long Island Sound, raising bacteria levels that can cause illness. The DOH's threshold system dictates the response: more than half an inch means one day closed, more than an inch means two days, and more than 2 inches means no guaranteed reopening date.

What beachgoers should know

With Labor Day on Sept. 7, Rye residents hoping for uninterrupted beach time face an uncertain stretch. The DOH has not indicated when testing or clearance might occur. Residents who want to check whether Coveleigh Club or nearby beaches have reopened should call the beach directly before visiting.

The county has warned all summer that beach waters may contain harmful bacteria after heavy rain, with contamination traced to road runoff into drainage outfalls near the shoreline. In its standard closure notices, the county has advised patrons to avoid the water at affected beaches.

Upcoming

  • Labor Day weekend: Sept. 5–7. Beach status at Coveleigh Club remains subject to DOH clearance.
  • Rye beach check: Call Coveleigh Club directly before any visit following rainfall.