GRAND HAVEN, MI - Dangerous swimming conditions in Lake Michigan are being forecast for later today for beaches from Grand Haven and stretching south across the Indiana border.
According to the National Weather Service, north winds will increase throughout the day Monday, building waves up to 7 feet tall on the lake, and sending water crashing over piers and breakwalls.
A beach hazard statement is in effect for those coastal areas from noon today through this evening.
“Dangerous swimming conditions are expected Monday along the Lake Michigan shoreline south of Grand Haven,” the NWS said this morning. “In addition, piers may be overtopped by waves and will become dangerous to walk on. Consider postponing your beach day, or travel to a safer location. Stay dry when waves are high!”
A map describing the Lake Michigan forecast shows the southern tier of the lake in red - a danger zone when it comes to swim and pier conditions.
Waves are forecast to be 3 to 5 feet this morning, then build to 5 to 7 feet this afternoon and evening. They’ll be pushed by north winds about 15 mph this morning, then rising to up to 30 mph by later today.
These conditions not only can make swimming difficult, it creates dangerous longshore and rip currents as well as structural currents in places with piers and breakwaters.
Beaches expected to have particularly dicey conditions today include North Beach in South Haven and Holland State Park, the NWS said.
“North sides of north piers will be dangerous places to swim, given longshore currents intersecting the piers in these locations, creating strong structural currents along them,” the agency said.
“High wave action makes swimming difficult and can tire even a strong swimmer quickly.”
Here’s what to know about the most dangerous currents on days like this:
Structural currents: These form along piers where longshore currents and the lake’s wave action are both flowing into a structure, like a pier or breakwater. If you get caught in one of these, you can find yourself over your head quickly. “Structural currents can sweep you out into deeper water along the pier structure.”
Longshore currents: This type of current moves parallel to the shoreline. “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: These are the ones we hear the most about when we talk about swimmers struggling in just a few feet of water, and being swept deeper into the lake. These are actually powerful channels of water flowing away from shore that pull you into deeper water. They happen most often at low spots in the lake’s bottom near shore, or at breaks in sandbars.