Full Notification

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS 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 ST JOSEPH TO MANISTEE.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...South winds of 15 to 25 mph will
shift to the north today and waves will continue to average 3 to
6 feet. Strong longshore currents and structural currents are
expected to continue. Once the winds shift northerly, the north
sides of piers will become the most dangerous place to swim.

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.