GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — With brisk north winds pumping in chilly air Monday, waves will kick up on Lake Michigan once again and create the risk for dangerous currents along West Michigan beaches.
Here is the full text of the notice from the National Weather Service:
“…BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS 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 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…NORTH WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH CREATING WAVES 4 TO 8 FEET WILL MAKE SWIMMING VERY HAZARDOUS. THE NORTH SIDES OF PIERS AND BREAK WALLS WILL BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.
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.”
