HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazard Statement for the Lakeshore till 8 p.m. tonight June 7.
Lake Michigan’s shoreline from the north in Ludington all the way south to South Haven will experience high waves, strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions.
Beaches with particulary dangerous conditions today include Holland State Park, North Beach in South Haven and Muskegon State Park.
The National Weather Service says that structural currents form along piers where longshore currents and wave action flow into the structure. Structural currents can sweep you out into the 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 which makes 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.
