Full Notification

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
308 AM EDT TUE AUG 23 2016
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY
NIGHT...

* 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 ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PIERS WILL BE PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS. THIS INCLUDES GRAND HAVEN STATE PARK AND PERE
MARQUETTE PARK IN MUSKEGON.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...SOUTH OF TO 15 TO 25 KNOTS WILL
CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. THIS WILL CAUSE WAVES OF 3 TO 6
FEET INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING.

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.