Full Notification

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING...

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

* HIGH WAVE ACTION... STRONG CURRENTS AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING
CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE.

* LOCATION...BEACHES FROM GRAND HAVEN TO MANISTEE

* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS INCLUDE...

MUSKEGON STATE PARK...
MEARS STATE PARK IN PENTWATER...
STEARNS PARK IN LUDINGTON.


* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...NORTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE
BEHIND A COLD FRONT TONIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. 15 TO 25
MPH WINDS WILL BUILD WAVES INTO THE 3 TO 6 FOOT RANGE BEGINNING
AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WAVES WILL SUBSIDE TOWARDS SUNSET ON
SATURDAY. NORTH SIDES OF NORTH PIERS WILL BE DANGEROUS PLACES TO
SWIM ON SATURDAY GIVEN THE WAVES WILL BE COMING IN OUT OF THE
NORTH.

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.