Before you head to the beach this week, you may want to check to make sure it's safe. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, two beaches are closed and several others are under an advisory because of elevated bacteria levels as of Wednesday afternoon.

Jackson Harbor Ridges Beach and Ephraim Beach are closed. Advisories are in effect for Anclam Park Beach, Egg Harbor Beach, Newport Bay Beach, Nicolet Beach, Otumba Park Beach and Sand Dune Beach.

Swimming in water with elevated bacteria levels can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and other illnesses. Bacteria levels can fluctuate over several hours, and because conventional lab analyses take 18 to 24 hours, test results may not reflect current conditions.

For example, Goldenrod Lane Beach and Whitefish Dunes Beach were listed under an advisory on Tuesday before being declared open on Wednesday.

Door County Public Health encourages beachgoers to monitor the website and digital signs at 10 county beaches for real-time updates on whether conditions are safe for swimming.