Full Notification

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BEACH
HAZARDS STATEMENT...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY 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 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 INCREASE ON WEDNESDAY TO
15 TO 25 KNOTS. THE WINDS MAY START OUT FROM THE
NORTH/NORTHEAST... BUT ARE EXPECTED TO SWITCH TO BECOME
NORTH/NORTHWEST. THIS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS SWIMMING
CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY NEAR STRUCTURES. WAVES WILL BUILD TO 3
TO 5 FEET.

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.