Alert archive / Michigan / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 23, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

September 8, 20266 counties in Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this beach hazards statement at Sep 8, 2026, 3:14 AM EDT for 6 counties in Michigan. It took effect at Sep 8, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 30 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 8, 2026, 3:14 AM EDT (07:14 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 8, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT
Expired
Sep 9, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
30 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI

Counties Allegan County, MI, Mason County, MI, Muskegon County, MI, Oceana County, MI, Ottawa County, MI, Van Buren County, MI

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:18 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

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 232 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-09-08Temperature 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, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-09-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -10 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1634 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

251 
WHUS43 KGRR 080714
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
314 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

MIZ037-043-050-056-081515-
/O.NEW.KGRR.BH.S.0023.260908T1800Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-
314 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

* WHEN...From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Wednesday 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
587 
WHUS43 KGRR 081438
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1038 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

MIZ037-043-050-056-082245-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0023.260908T1800Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-
1038 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

* WHEN...From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Wednesday 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
984 
WHUS43 KGRR 082040
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
440 PM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

MIZ037-043-050-056-090445-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-
440 PM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

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

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

* WHEN...Through Wednesday 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
527 
WHUS43 KGRR 090702
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
302 AM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

MIZ064-071-091515-
/O.EXA.KGRR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260910T0000Z/
Allegan-Van Buren-
302 AM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

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

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Allegan and Van Buren 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$

MIZ037-043-050-056-091515-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-
302 AM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

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

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
228 
WHUS43 KGRR 091352
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
952 AM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

MIZ037-043-050-056-064-071-092200-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
952 AM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren 
  counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
698 
WHUS43 KGRR 091916
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
316 PM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

MIZ037-043-050-056-064-071-100000-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260910T0000Z/
Mason-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
316 PM EDT Wed Sep 9 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming
  conditions expected. Piers may be swamped by waves.

* WHERE...Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren 
  counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 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
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$

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 Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Sep 8, 3:09 AM EDT, 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Showers/storms tonight/Wednesday
  • Low chance of showers Saturday
  • Stronger system possible Monday
Area forecast discussion, Sep 8, 3:09 AM EDT, 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
309 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers/storms tonight/Wednesday

- Low chance of showers Saturday

- Stronger system possible Monday

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 308 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

- Showers/storms tonight/Wednesday

A cold front stretches from eastern North Dakota to central South
Dakota. Radar and IR imagery shows abundant convection firing
ahead of the front currently. As the front approaches Michigan
tonight, we're likely to see showers and thunderstorms move over
the far northwest cwa late this afternoon and slowly move south
across the cwa tonight and Wednesday. All of the ECMWF ensemble
members show precipitation. Upper level flow is largely parallel
to the front so we're not going to see the front plow through
quickly.

A nocturnal LLJ will move over the cwa tonight advecting in
moisture-rich air from the south; pwats climb to around 2 inches,
which could result in moderate to locally heavy rainfall. However,
MUCAPE is only a couple hundred j/kg. Thus thunderstorms may not
be very robust and severe storms are not anticipated. RRFS model
data has back off on thunderstorm strength during the past couple
of model runs. That said, bulk shear values are in the 30-40kt
range tonight and a bit higher Wednesday which may allow for
locally stronger cells. Total qpf expected is a quarter inch or
less south of I-96 and a quarter to two thirds north of I-96.

Precipitation will diminish Wednesday afternoon as the front moves
south and high pressure begins to move in from the northwest.

- Low chance of showers Saturday

Another front will approach Saturday, but the strongest dynamics
with the system will be north in Canada, closer to the low over
James Bay. Moisture return ahead of the front also isn't stellar,
so we only have 15-20 PoPs in the grids for this.

- Stronger system possible Monday

A better chance of rain will arrive next Monday when another front
approaches. This time, though, there's a much stronger shortwave
accompanying it. Models show a tighter pressure gradient which
could mean a breezy day ahead of the system. Most of the ECMWF
ensemble members show precipitation with this system, and a few
point toward heavy rain; there's time to flesh out the details as
it is almost a week away.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 104 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

Abundant high clouds are noted on the latest IR loop. The
TAF period will be dry, but clouds will gradually lower to around
10k ft by Tuesday evening in advance of the next cold front.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 308 AM EDT Tue Sep 8 2026

Southwest winds will increase today ahead of the next cold front
that will move through Wednesday. Highest waves will be north of
Holland and we issued a small craft advisory and beach hazards
statement for this. Waves will increase to 3 to 6 feet and become
hazardous to small craft this afternoon before decreasing
Wednesday night.

&&

.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Beach Hazards Statement from 2 PM EDT this afternoon through
     Wednesday evening for MIZ037-043-050-056.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM EDT
     Wednesday for LMZ846>849.

&&

DISCUSSION...04
AVIATION...04
MARINE...04

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 8, 3:13 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryGRR41 hr

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.