Full Notification

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT FOR DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 AT 11:00 A.M.

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

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE.

* LOCATION...BEACHES FROM HOLLAND TO MANISTEE.

* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TODAY INTO
TONIGHT INCLUDE...

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

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...STRONG SOUTH WINDS TODAY AND TONIGHT OF 15 TO 30 MPH WILL BUILD WAVES INTO THE 3 TO 6 FOOT RANGE NORTH OF HOLLAND. THE LARGEST WAVES WILL BE FOUND FROM WHITEHALL TO THE NORTH INCLUDING THE BEACHES OF MASON AND OCEANA COUNTIES. STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS WILL SWEEP UP THE BEACHES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. IN LOCATIONS WHERE THE SOUTH FLOW INTERSECTS PIERS LIKE AT GRAND HAVEN AND MUSKEGON...STRUCTURAL CURRENTS CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE SOUTH SIDES OF THE PIERS. LARGE WAVES WILL POSE A HAZARD TO SWIMMERS AS WELL.

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.