Full Notification

The Nation Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a beach hazards statement in effect from this evening July 8 through Saturday evening, July 9.


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

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE.

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

* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY INCLUDE...

NORTH BEACH IN SOUTH HAVEN...
HOLLAND STATE PARK...
MUSKEGON STATE PARK...
MEARS STATE PARK IN PENTWATER...
STEARNS PARK IN LUDINGTON.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE
BEHIND A COLD FRONT TONIGHT INTO THE 15 TO 25 MPH RANGE. WINDS
WILL TURN NORTH ON SATURDAY AND REMAIN AT 15 TO 25 MPH. WINDS OF
THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BUILD WAVES INTO THE 3 TO 5 FOOT RANGE
TONIGHT PEAKING IN THE 3 TO 6 FOOT RANGE ON SATURDAY. A HIGH
SWIM RISK IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND SATURDAY DUE TO DANGEROUS
WAVES AND CURRENTS. NORTH SIDES OF NORTH PIERS WILL BE DANGEROUS
PLACES TO SWIM ON SATURDAY. BOTH WATER AND AIR TEMPERATURES ON
SATURDAY WILL BE ON THE COOL SIDE...WHICH MAY KEEP BEACH
POPULATIONS DOWN A BIT.

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.