Full Notification

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

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

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE.

* 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...NORTH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ON
FRIDAY WILL BUILD WAVE HEIGHTS INTO THE 4 TO 7 FOOT RANGE. WAVES
OF THIS HEIGHT WILL POSE A HAZARD TO SWIMMERS. STRONG ALONG
SHORE WINDS WILL CREATE LONGSHORE CURRENTS SWEEPING FROM NORTH
TO SOUTH DOWN THE BEACH. WHERE THESE CURRENTS INTERSECT PIER
STRUCTURES...STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS WILL OCCUR.

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.