Full Notification

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a Beach Hazards Statement for this evening Friday, August 29, 2014 8:00PM through tomorrow evening Saturday, August 30, 2014 11:00PM.

* HIGH WAVE ACTION... STRONG CURRENTS AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE.

* LOCATION...BEACHES FROM ST. JOSEPH TO MANISTEE.

BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS SATURDAY INCLUDE...

SOUTH BEACH IN SOUTH HAVEN...
GRAND HAVEN STATE PARK...
PERE MARQUETTE PARK IN MUSKEGON.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY ESPECIALLY NORTH OF WHITEHALL. WAVES WILL BUILD A BIT TODAY WHEN THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SWIM HAZARDS. A HIGH RISK OF SWIM HAZARDS WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND SATURDAY AS WINDS AND WAVES INCREASE A BIT MORE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HIGH WAVE ACTION MAKES SWIMMING DIFFICULT AND CAN TIRE EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER QUICKLY.

STRUCTURAL CURRENTS FORM ALONG PIERS WHERE LONGSHORE CURRENTS AND WAVE ACTION FLOW INTO THE STRUCTURE. STRUCTURAL CURRENTS CAN SWEEP YOU OUT INTO DEEPER WATER ALONG THE PIER STRUCTURE.

A LONGSHORE CURRENT IS A LAKE CURRENT THAT MOVES PARALLEL TO SHORE. LONGSHORE CURRENTS CAN BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT SWIMMERS FROM BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR FEET ON THE BOTTOM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RETURN TO SHORE.

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN SANDBARS. RIP CURRENTS CAN SWEEP YOU INTO DEEPER WATER.