Dangerous Conditions On Lake Michigan Today

It's a perfect today for a swim, but conditions along the Lake Michigan shoreline will be challenging Thursday. On the plus side, get out your surf board. 

The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazard statement for the Lake Michigan coastline from Laporte, IN all the way up north to Mason County and the Ludington beaches.

Waves will be rolling in at 3-6 feet for most of the afternoon and evening before tapering off late today. Three to six foot cutters are the most dangerous, because they're small enough to ignore, but big enough to cause rip currents. Be safe, and if you can't be safe, be smart out there. At North Beach in South Haven, Holland State Park and Muskegon State Park, winds will reach 15 to 30 miles per hour, causing 3 to 6 foot waves. The highest waves will be found toward South Haven in the evening. Swimmers should avoid north sides of piers, which are particularly dangerous.

  The good news is, if you know what you're doing and understand how to get out of a rip current, there's lots of surfing and boogie boarding fun to be had. BUT KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS AND RESPECT THE LAKE!!