Full Notification

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

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

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...AN UNUSUALLY STRONG STORM WILL
TRACK THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES REGION LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY. THE WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHWEST AND
INCREASE CONSIDERABLY DURING THIS TIME. THE WAVES WILL BUILD THE
GREATEST DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY SO CONDITIONS WILL WORSEN
THROUGH THE DAY. ALL BEACHES WILL SEE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.
WATER LEVELS ARE UNUSUALLY HIGH AND CONSIDERABLY OVERWASH OF THE
PIERS WILL LEAD TO A PARTICULARILY DANGEROUS SITUATION.


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.