Beach hazard

July 27, 2014

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNINGTHROUGH MONDAY 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 JOESPH TO MANISTEE.

* BEACHES WITH PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TODAY INCLUDE

NORTH BEACH IN SOUTH HAVEN HOLLAND STATE PARK MUSKEGON STATE
PARK MEARS STATE PARK IN PENTWATER STEARNS PARK IN LUDINGTON.

* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE
ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN TODAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WILL
TURN TO THE NORTHWEST THEN NORTH TONIGHT AND INCREASE TO 15 TO
25 MPH. WAVES MONDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE 3 TO 6 FEET. THE NORTH
SIDES OF PIERS AND BREAK WALLS WILL BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS
AND SWIMMERS SHOULD USE A GREAT DEAL OF CAUTION.

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.

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT