Stearns Park beach closed due to weather

LUDINGTON — Stearns Park beach has been closed for swimming due to a National Weather Service beach hazard. The hazard was issued at 3:39 p.m. and is in effect until 11 p.m.

The following is the advisory:

* HIGH WAVE ACTION AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS… EXPECTED.

* STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS… EXPECTED.

* RIP CURRENTS… POSSIBLE.

* LOCATION… BEACHES FROM MUSKEGON TO MANISTEE. PERE MARQUETTE PARK IN MUSKEGON NEAR THE SOUTH PIER WILL BE PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS DUE TO A STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENT FLOWING OUTWARD ALONG THE PIER.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS… SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH THROUGH THIS EVENING. WAVE HEIGHTS OF 3 TO 7 FEET THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE HOT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH WATER TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S WILL ATTRACT A HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO SWIM IN LAKE MICHIGAN. IT IS CRITICAL IN THIS SITUATION THAT BEACH GOERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THE HIGH SWIM HAZARD RISK THAT EXISTS THROUGH THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

BE SURE OF YOUR SWIMMING ABILITY. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT ENTER THE WATER UNSUPERVISED AND WITHOUT A CERTIFIED FLOTATION DEVICE. CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WHEN IN OR NEAR THE WATER. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND SIGNS POSTED NEAR BEACH ACCESS POINTS AND LIFEGUARD STATIONS.

HIGH WAVE ACTION ALONE CAN MAKE SWIMMING DIFFICULT ON DAYS SUCH AS THIS. INCOMING WAVES IN RAPID SUCCESSION CAN TIRE A SWIMMER QUICKLY.

STRUCTURAL CURRENTS FORM ALONG PIERS WHERE LONGSHORE CURRENTS AND WAVE ACTION FLOW INTO THE STRUCTURE. STRUCTURAL CURRENTS CAN SWEEP YOU OUT LAKEWARD 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 OUT LAKEWARD.