BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BEACH
HAZARDS STATEMENT...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING.
* HIGH WAVE ACTION... STRONG CURRENTS AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING
CONDITIONS EXPECTED.
* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.
* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.
* RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED.
* LOCATION...BEACHES FROM ST. JOSEPH TO MANISTEE.
* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ON FRIDAY INCLUDE...
NORTH BEACH IN SOUTH HAVEN...
HOLLAND STATE PARK...
MUSKEGON STATE PARK...
MEARS STATE PARK IN PENTWATER...
STEARNS PARK IN LUDINGTON.
* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...WINDS WILL BECOME NORTH/NORTHWEST
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH. WAVES WILL BUILD
TO 3 TO 6 FEET BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY MORNING. WINDS AND WAVES WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY...AND DIMINISH FRIDAY EVENING. THESE
CONDITIONS WILL PRODUCE VERY DANGEROUS CURRENTS...ESPECIALLY ON
THE NORTH SIDE OF PIERS AND BREAKWALLS.
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.
