Full Notification

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BEACH
HAZARDS STATEMENT...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
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 HOLLAND TO MANISTEE.

* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS INCLUDE...

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

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS... AFTER A NIGHT WITH LIGHT WINDS,
THE WINDS WILL PICKUP TOWARD DAYBREAK THURSDAY. SOUTH WINDS BY
AFTERNOON WILL BE INCREASING TO AROUND 25 KNOTS. THIS WILL CAUSE
WAVES TO BUILD TO 3 TO 5 FEET. STRONG STRUCTURAL AND LONGSHORE
CURRENTS WILL DEVELOP NORTH OF HOLLAND. SOUTH FACING SOUTH PIERS
WILL BECOME PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE WEST
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY, RIP CURRENTS BECOME A HIGHER
THREAT. BY THIS TIME PERIOD, WAVES OF 5 TO 7 FEET ARE EXPECTED.

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.