The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued fresh beach hazard statements along portions of Lake Michigan. Forecasters warn that high waves, dangerous currents, and rip currents may pose life-threatening risks for swimmers near the shore this weekend. These alerts follow recent widespread warnings across all five Great Lakes, advising nearly 1 million people to avoid water amid dangerous conditions from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario.
Beach hazard statements occur when the Great Lakes Beach Hazards program forecasts high swim risks due to waves, rip currents, or other dangerous currents. The new advisories focus on areas in Wisconsin and Michigan, where strong wave action and currents will create hazardous swimming conditions through Friday and potentially into Saturday.
Officials highlight that currents in the Great Lakes can be as dangerous as those in the ocean. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP), a nonprofit focusing on water safety and tracking regional drowning incidents, reports that dangerous currents contribute to dozens of deaths annually. Since 2010, approximately 1,480 drownings have occurred in the Great Lakes, including 65 this year, with 35 incidents in Lake Michigan alone.
The warnings come after the traditional summer lifeguard season has ended at many beaches, meaning that beachgoers face potentially dangerous conditions without trained rescuers. Dave Benjamin, GLSRP’s executive director, noted: “This time of year there are no lifeguards on the beaches across the Great Lakes. Beaches usually have lifeguards from Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Monday of Labor Day weekend, but not all beaches have lifeguards.”
Impacted Beaches: Wisconsin and Michigan Alerts
The NWS identified several beaches expected to face particularly hazardous conditions:
Wisconsin Beach Warnings
- Kewaunee County: Crescent Beach, City of Kewaunee Beach
- Manitowoc County: Point Beach, Neshotah Beach, Red Arrow Beach
- Door County: Rock Island State Beach, Baileys Harbor beaches, Whitefish Dunes Beach
High waves and dangerous currents are anticipated from Friday afternoon through Saturday. Residents and visitors are advised to stay out of the water.
Michigan
- Southern Schoolcraft County: Lakeview Park, Seul Choix Point
The Marquette NWS office warns of high wave action and strong rip currents creating life-threatening swimming conditions Friday afternoon and evening. Similar wave setups have historically resulted in rescues and fatalities at these locations. “Waves in rapid succession can tire swimmers quickly,” the agency stated. Advisers stress staying out of the water until conditions improve.
This situation coincides with an active period for Great Lakes beach hazards. Early this week, a large weather system generated dangerous waves and currents, leading the NWS to issue advisories across all Great Lakes shorelines. Officials warn that dangerous conditions can develop quickly, even when skies are clear and temperatures are warm.
Understanding and Escaping Rip Currents
Safety officials emphasize that panic should be avoided if caught in a rip current. These are powerful, narrow water channels moving away from the shoreline. They occur when waves push water to the beach, with back-flow following a concentrated path out to sea. Though rip currents don’t typically pull swimmers underwater, they can drag them away from shore, causing exhaustion and panic.
The GLSRP recommends the strategy “Flip, Float, and Follow”:
- Flip: Roll onto your back.
- Float: Conserve energy by floating.
- Follow: Let the current guide you to safety.
If you can swim, move parallel to the shoreline instead of directly to the beach. Once out of the current, swim at an angle back to shore. If escape seems impossible, continue to float, save your energy, and signal for help.
The NWS stresses that the safest choice during active beach hazard statements is to stay out of the water. Dangerous currents frequently form near structures like piers or river mouths, and can quickly overwhelm even confident swimmers. With lifeguards absent post-Labor Day and hazardous conditions expected through the weekend, officials urge beach visitors to consult local forecasts and treat warnings seriously.