Alert archive / Michigan / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 10, NWS Gaylord, MI

August 4, 2026Alpena County, Mackinac County, Michigan

NWS Gaylord, MI issued this beach hazards statement at Aug 4, 2026, 3:56 AM EDT for Alpena County, Mackinac County, Michigan. It took effect at Aug 4, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 15 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 4, 2026, 3:56 AM EDT (07:56 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 4, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
Aug 4, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT
In force
15 hr
Issued by
NWS Gaylord, MI

Counties Alpena County, MI, Mackinac County, MI

The radar

The NCL Michigan radar (KAPX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:57 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Alpena, MI (KAPX), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 141 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Alpena, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Alpena, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1441 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

054 
WHUS43 KAPX 040756
CFWAPX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
356 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

MIZ024-095-041600-
/O.NEW.KAPX.BH.S.0010.260804T1200Z-260805T0300Z/
Alpena-Western Mackinac-
356 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING
THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions due to 3-5 ft waves and 
  rip currents.

* WHERE...Alpena and Western Mackinac Counties.

* WHEN...From 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
077 
WHUS43 KAPX 041426
CFWAPX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
1026 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

MIZ024-095-050300-
/O.CON.KAPX.BH.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260805T0300Z/
Alpena-Western Mackinac-
1026 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions due to 3-5 ft waves and 
  rip currents.

* WHERE...Alpena and Western Mackinac Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
213 
WHUS43 KAPX 041824
CFWAPX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
224 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

MIZ024-095-050300-
/O.CON.KAPX.BH.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260805T0300Z/
Alpena-Western Mackinac-
224 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions due to 3-5 ft waves and 
  rip currents.

* WHERE...Alpena and Western Mackinac Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water 
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
051 
WHUS43 KAPX 050235
CFWAPX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
1035 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

MIZ024-095-050345-
/O.EXP.KAPX.BH.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260805T0300Z/
Alpena-Western Mackinac-
1035 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions due to 3-5 ft waves and 
  rip currents.

* WHERE...Alpena and Western Mackinac Counties.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water 
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Gaylord, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Aug 4, 3:13 AM EDT, 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Warmer temperatures today with breezy to gusty southwesterly winds resulting in hazardous swimming conditions across some shorelines.
  • Shower/ thunderstorm chances return later this evening through Wednesday night, locally heavy rain possible.
  • Seasonable temperatures persist through the end of the week with occasional low-end shower chances.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 3:13 AM EDT, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
313 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warmer temperatures today with breezy to gusty southwesterly
  winds resulting in hazardous swimming conditions across some
  shorelines.

- Shower/ thunderstorm chances return later this evening
  through Wednesday night, locally heavy rain possible.

- Seasonable temperatures persist through the end of the week
  with occasional low-end shower chances.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 312 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

Broad mid-level ridging and associated surface pressure remain
in control to start the period, supporting another quiet and dry
day across northern Michigan. This ridge will steadily shift
east through tonight as the next shortwave tracks across the
Upper Great Lakes, sending a weak cold front toward the region.
Dry weather should persist through much of today with breezy to
gusty southwesterly winds and increasing clouds arriving later
in the day ahead of the approaching system. There remains a
chance that a broken line of of showers and perhaps isolated
thunderstorms develops and reaches eastern Upper and portions of
northern Lake Michigan late this afternoon into the evening
along and just ahead of the front. Instability remains rather
limited, while the stronger deep-layer shear appears to remain
displaced farther west. As a result, organized or severe
convection is not anticipated. Shower coverage is expected to
gradually increase tonight as deeper moisture spreads into
northern Michigan and upper-level forcing strengthens. While the
best instability will be lacking due to the more nocturnal
timing of the frontal passage, saturated profiles through the
column will support periods of moderate to heavy rainfall within
the more persistent showers. The slow east-southeast
progression of the front may allow localized higher rainfall
totals.

Rain chances continue into Wednesday night, although the better
coverage should gradually shift toward northeast Lower early
before retreating toward the Saginaw Bay region and farther
south through the afternoon/ evening. Localized heavier rainfall
remains possible through Wednesday with WPC continuing to
highlight the region in a Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall.
Temperatures will also trend a bit cooler Wednesday behind the
front, aided by increased cloud cover and precipitation.

The latter half of the week looks considerably quieter as
cooler air works into the Great Lakes beneath broad cyclonic
flow aloft. Although no particularity strong systems are
evident, subtle waves rotating through the upper-level trough
may be enough to support occasional low-end shower chances from
time to time. However, many locations look to experience
extended dry periods between any passing disturbances.
Temperatures are expected to remain close to early August
normals through the remainder of the week, with a slight warming
trend possible heading into he weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1148 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026

Maybe some fog overnight, best chance at MBL. Increasing
mid/high clouds and increasing southerly breezes Tuesday. But
VFR. Expect showers to reach CIU/PLN by mid-late Tue evening,
and MVFR conditions are possible.

&&

.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT this morning through
     this evening for MIZ024-095.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this
     evening for LHZ345.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM EDT
     this evening for LHZ348-349.
     Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM EDT this
     evening for LMZ323-341-342-344>346.

&&

DISCUSSION...NSC
AVIATION...JZ

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in Michigan, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.