Full Notification

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A BEACH
HAZARDS STATEMENT...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* 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...SOUTH
BEACH IN SOUTH HAVEN... GRAND HAVEN STATE PARK... PERE MARQUETTE
PARK IN MUSKEGON.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...WINDS WILL INCREASE BEGINNING LATE
TONIGHT, AND BECOME HAZARDOUS BEGINNING WEDNESDAY MORNING.
SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND WAVES OF 4 TO 7 FEET WILL
CREATE VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. THE MOST DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
WILL BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF STRUCTURES. CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE HAZARDOUS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING, BEFORE WINDS
AND WAVES DIMINISH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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.