HOLLAND, MI - Beach areas up and down Lake Michigan are under a Beach Hazards advisory from the National Weather Service, with waves up to 7 feet forecast for some spots today.
The NWS office in Grand Rapids issued a hazard statement earlier today. It runs through Tuesday morning.
An anticipated mix of dangerous waves and currents and increasing wave size are driving the cautionary messaging as storms pass through the area today and a cold front moves into Michigan later Monday. The NWS said the following conditions are expected:
- High swim risk between St. Joseph and Manistee.
- Waves 4 to 7 feet expected.
- Waves and currents will be especially dangerous near piers.
Of special concern in conditions like this are strong currents that can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves that can sweep people off piers, the NWS said.
“Today will not be the best day to go to our Lake Michigan beaches,” NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said when sharing the beach warning on social media. “Winds will swing from the south southeast to north and increase to near 30 knots. That will create large waves, as high as 7 feet. It will be very dangerous to be in the waters of Lake Michigan today.”
Grand Haven State Park also shared today’s beach hazards message on its Facebook page. On Sunday, a 21-year-old man from Wyoming drowned when he was swept out of the swim area.
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