Alert archive / Michigan / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 13, NWS Marquette, MI

July 20, 2026Alger County, Marquette County, Schoolcraft County, Michigan

NWS Marquette, MI issued this beach hazards statement at Jul 20, 2026, 3:05 PM EDT for Alger County, Marquette County, Schoolcraft County, Michigan. It took effect at Jul 21, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 16 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 2026, 3:05 PM EDT (19:05 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 21, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Jul 21, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
16 hr
Issued by
NWS Marquette, MI

Counties Alger County, MI, Marquette County, MI, Schoolcraft County, MI

The radar

The Marquette radar (KMQT), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:08 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 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 369 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-20Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 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
1437 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

100 
WHUS43 KMQT 201905
CFWMQT

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Marquette MI
305 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

MIZ005-006-210900-
/O.NEW.KMQT.BH.S.0013.260721T1000Z-260722T0200Z/
Marquette-Alger-
305 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions are expected due to high 
  wave action and strong rip currents.

* WHERE...Marquette and Alger Counties.

* WHEN...From Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.

* IMPACTS...High wave action and dangerous currents will lead to 
  life threatening swimming conditions. Waves in rapid 
  succession can tire swimmers quickly.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Current related fatalities and rescues in 
  the past have occurred due to similar wave conditions at 
  locations listed below:

For Marquette County: Middle Bay north of Presque Isle and at
Little Presque Isle.

For Alger County: The Au Train River mouth at Au Train, the
exposed regions of Grand Marais Harbor, and Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$

MIZ014-210200-
/O.CON.KMQT.BH.S.0012.000000T0000Z-260721T0200Z/
Southern Schoolcraft-
305 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions are due to high wave 
  action and strong rip currents.

* WHERE...Southern Schoolcraft County.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...High wave action and dangerous currents will lead to 
  life threatening swimming conditions. Waves in rapid 
  succession can tire swimmers quickly.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Current related fatalities and rescues in 
  the past have occurred due to similar wave conditions at 
  locations listed below:

For Southern Schoolcraft County: Near Lakeview Park and Seul
Choix Point.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
594 
WHUS43 KMQT 210641
CFWMQT

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Marquette MI
241 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

MIZ014-211500-
/O.EXB.KMQT.BH.S.0013.260721T1000Z-260721T1500Z/
Southern Schoolcraft-
241 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 11 AM EDT THIS
MORNING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions are expected due to high 
  wave action and strong rip currents.

* WHERE...Southern Schoolcraft County.

* WHEN...From 6 AM to 11 AM EDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...High wave action and dangerous currents will lead to 
  life threatening swimming conditions. Waves in rapid 
  succession can tire swimmers quickly.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Current related fatalities and rescues in 
  the past have occurred due to similar wave conditions at 
  locations listed below:

For Southern Schoolcraft County: Near Lakeview Park and Seul
Choix Point.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$

MIZ005-006-220200-
/O.CON.KMQT.BH.S.0013.260721T1000Z-260722T0200Z/
Marquette-Alger-
241 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT THIS
MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous swimming conditions are expected due to high 
  wave action and strong rip currents.

* WHERE...Marquette and Alger Counties.

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT this morning through this evening.

* IMPACTS...High wave action and dangerous currents will lead to 
  life threatening swimming conditions. Waves in rapid 
  succession can tire swimmers quickly.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Current related fatalities and rescues in 
  the past have occurred due to similar wave conditions at 
  locations listed below:

For Marquette County: Middle Bay north of Presque Isle and at
Little Presque Isle.

For Alger County: The Au Train River mouth at Au Train, the
exposed regions of Grand Marais Harbor, and Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$

TAP

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 Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Jul 20, 2:56 PM EDT, 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Smoke from upstream wildfires will continue to impact Upper Michigan. Air Quality Alerts remain in effect today trough midnight tonight. Consider limiting strenuous outdoor activity or remaining indoors when possible.
  • Strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail are anticipated this afternoon and evening. Those with outdoor plans should continue to monitor forecast updates.
  • The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather across the entire UP today with an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) extending into much of the west-central.
  • Cooler and breezy conditions arrive on Tuesday. Gales are expected over Lake Superior along and east of the Keweenaw Tuesday morning through the evening. This will also result in dangerous swim conditions for the Lake Superior beaches.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 2:56 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
256 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Smoke from upstream wildfires will continue to impact Upper
Michigan. Air Quality Alerts remain in effect today trough midnight
tonight. Consider limiting strenuous outdoor activity or remaining
indoors when possible.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds
and large hail are anticipated this afternoon and evening. Those
with outdoor plans should continue to monitor forecast updates.

- The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a Slight Risk (level 2
of 5) for severe weather across the entire UP today with an Enhanced
Risk (level 3 of 5) extending into much of the west-central.

- Cooler and breezy conditions arrive on Tuesday. Gales are expected
over Lake Superior along and east of the Keweenaw Tuesday morning
through the evening. This will also result in dangerous swim
conditions for the Lake Superior beaches.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 256 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

Strong thunderstorms marched across the northern portions of the
U.P. this morning bringing marginally severe hail and isolated
strong winds gusts. A possible wake low had developed behind the
thunderstorms bringing strong winds over Lake Superior, particularly
in the Grand Marais area where gusts reached 60 mph. Visible
satellite had showed clearing skies over the central and western
U.P. with the exceptions of a weakening line of showers and
thunderstorms east of the Keweenaw. This has allowed the western
part of the U.P. to warm well into the 80s with dewpoints in the
upper 60s to low 70s, making it feel muggy. Surface pressure
analysis showed low pressure moving across southern Ontario with the
associated surface trough extending south into northern MN and the
central Plains. At the upper levels a well defined shortwave was
evident over southern Ontario with a strong jet rounding the base of
the trough. Southwest flow at the surface was helping to advect the
smoke out of the area with likely continued improvement through the
day and tonight.

Low pressure over southern Ontario will move east to near James Bay
by Tuesday morning, dragging a cold front across the U.P. Ahead of
the front the atmosphere will continue to become more favorable for
thunderstorms, some of them strong to severe. WOFS shows mlcape 1500-
2500 J/kg along with 45-50kt of deep layer shear. While a cap
remains in place, with most of the ongoing convection of Lake
Superior owing to large scale ascent, the cap will weaken through
the afternoon. Any storms that develop this afternoon could be
discrete supercells with all thunderstorm hazards on the table. The
latest WOFS run shows distinct helicity tracks across the central
U.P. indicative of discrete supercells. There is a non-zero tornado
threat, especially over the central U.P. where hodographs are deeply
curved and 0-1 SRH could reach or exceeds 300 m^2/s^2. However, the
main threats will be large hail (potentially 2" or greater) and
strong damaging winds (potentially as high as 80mph). As the front
moves into the area this evening could see the storms build upscale
into a linear system. If this happens the storms will transition to
mainly a wind threat has they move east from the central U.P.
through the eastern U.P. There is still uncertainty as to the
coverage of thunderstorms. Please continue to monitor the forecast
and have a way to receive severe weather warnings.

The main hazard is expected this afternoon into the evening as a
fairly volatile atmosphere for our neck of the woods shapes up. As
strong synoptic support spreads over the area and airmass recover
takes place, CAM ensembles suggest MUCAPE values climbing near 2500
j/kg. What is most impressive is the kinematic environment. Strong
mid-level flow will increase bulk shear between 45-55 kts and sickle
shaped low-level hodographs support 0-1 km SRH upwards of 100-200
m2/s2 (150-250 1-3km SRH). As storm coverage increase ahead of and
along a surface cold front, all severe weather hazards are on the
table, including tornadoes should isolated supercells be maintained.
Steep lapse rates aloft will contribute to a sizable hail threat in
supercells, potentially 2" or greater. Once storms grow upscale into
a more linear segment, damaging winds will then become the main
threat. SPC has maintained a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for the
entire UP with an area of the west and central UP in an Enhanced
Risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather. All of this is to say that
if you have outdoor plans today, especially in the afternoon and
evening, have a way to receive a warning and a plan should one be
issued.

Expect cooler conditions on Tuesday into Wednesday behind the cold
front that will sweep through the area tonight. High temperatures
will be mainly in the 70s with 60s possible close to Lake Superior.
It will be breezy on Tuesday with north winds potentially gusting to
30 mph over the land areas and over 45 mph over the Great Lakes.
Some lingering showers are likely for the NW wind "snowbelts" and
upslope favored areas on Tuesday as 850 mb temps cool between 5-10C.
This may aid in lake-enhanced showers as the nearshores and areas of
the west and central lake have warmed between 15-20C. Swim
conditions will become dangerous on Tuesday for the Lake Superior
beaches of Marquette and Alger County.

The area remains under northwest flow aloft into the early part of
the weekend with a ridge building back over the central U.S. This
will bring the opportunity for showers and thunderstorms as weak
disturbances in the flow push across the U.P. Afternoon temperatures
will be seasonable, upper 70s to low 80s, with lows in the 50s.
Temperatures will warm to the mid 80s on Sunday as the ridge shifts
east over the Upper Great Lakes.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 200 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

Radar imagery as of 18z depicts the latest round of showers and
thunderstorms clearing the Keweenaw and pushing into central Lake
Superior. Expect some lingering stratus to produce MVFR cigs at
KCMX through about 19z. Otherwise, mainly VFR over most of the rest
of the UP for now as this morning's activity exits to the east,
though still currently seeing some smoke and locally reduced
visibilities to around 3 miles in the KSAW observations. The next
round of showers and thunderstorms will develop over the western and
central UP later this afternoon and push east through the evening,
warranting PROB30 for TSRA at all sites after 21z. Some of
these storms could be strong to severe as clearing skies help to
build instability back up in the near term. All modes of severe
will be possible, with large hail and damaging winds gusts
possible at the terminals. Severe threat will diminish after
01-02z as activity exits to the east, yielding VFR conditions
through most of tonight. Expect another batch of showers to
develop 09-12z Tuesday morning, accompanied by MVFR cigs at all
sites into the end of the TAF period.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 256 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

It will be breezy across the lake through this evening with
southwest winds of 20-30kt expected. A few rounds of thunderstorms
are expected through the evening as a deep low pressure moves
through Ontario and a cold front approaches the lake. Some of the
thunderstorms could be severe with large hail and high winds this
afternoon and evening.

Late tonight the thunderstorms threat will diminish and winds will
shift northwesterly as the cold front pushes through the area.
Strong pressure rises behind the front of 6-8 mb/6hr will result in
strengthening winds. Gales are expected for most of the lake along
and east of the Keweenaw on Tuesday, as high as 40kt. Over the west
expect winds in the 20-30kt range.

Winds fall below 20kt over the west for Wednesday with 20-30kt
Northwest winds continuing over the east, before settling down below
20kt late Wednesday night as the flow turns back to the southwest.
Southwest winds will continue through Saturday, mainly between 15
and 25kt.

&&

.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
  Beach Hazards Statement until 10 PM EDT this evening for
     MIZ014.

Lake Superior...
  Gale Watch from Tuesday morning through late Tuesday night for
     LSZ244>251-265>267.

Lake Michigan...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...BW/NL
AVIATION...CB
MARINE...NL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 20, 2:26 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
226 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0140 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Grand Marais, MI        46.68N 85.97W
07/20/2026  M57 MPH          LSZ251             MI   Mesonet

            GLOS Weather Station GRMM4, 1 NNE Grand
            Marais.

&&

JSS
Local storm report, Jul 20, 2:30 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
230 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1250 PM     Marine Tstm Wind Granite Island          46.72N 87.41W
07/20/2026  M36 MPH          LSZ265             MI   Public

            U-MICH and NMU Mesonet station GISM4, 11 N
            Trowbridge Park.

&&

JSS
Local storm report, Jul 20, 2:43 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
243 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0105 PM     Rain             Houghton Co Airport     47.17N 88.48W
07/20/2026  M1.06 Inch       Houghton           MI   ASOS

            ASOS station KCMX Houghton Co. Airport.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 20, 2:45 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
245 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0140 PM     Marine Tstm Wind Stannard Rock Lighthous 47.18N 87.22W
07/20/2026  M63 MPH          LSZ266             MI   C-Man Station

            Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report
            from Stannard Rock Lighthouse. C-MAN station
            STDM4, 27 ESE Keweenaw Point.

&&

JSS
Local storm report, Jul 20, 2:46 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
246 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0140 AM     Marine Tstm Wind Grand Marais, MI        46.68N 85.97W
07/20/2026  M57 MPH          LSZ251             MI   Mesonet

            Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report
            from Grand Marais, MI. GLOS Weather Station
            GRMM4, 1 NNE Grand Marais.

&&

JSS
Local storm report, Jul 20, 3:00 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Marquette MI
300 PM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0212 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 ESE Marquette         46.55N 87.38W
07/20/2026  M36 MPH          Marquette          MI   Mesonet

            NOAA WLON station MCGM4 Marquette Coast
            Guard.

&&

JSS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 1:52 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT53 min
Jul 20, 3:42 AM EDTGale WatchMQT11 hr
Jul 20, 7:18 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT42 min
Jul 20, 7:35 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT55 min
Jul 20, 8:13 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT62 min
Jul 20, 8:39 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTHoughton, Ontonagon66 min
Jul 20, 8:48 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT57 min
Jul 20, 8:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTHoughton, Keweenaw56 min
Jul 20, 9:20 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTBaraga, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, Ontonagon55 min
Jul 20, 9:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTBaraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Ontonagon67 min
Jul 20, 9:24 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT66 min
Jul 20, 10:00 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT60 min
Jul 20, 10:05 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTAlger, Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette55 min
Jul 20, 12:02 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT31 min
Jul 20, 12:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT67 min
Jul 20, 12:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT64 min
Jul 20, 1:20 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT55 min
Jul 20, 1:37 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT53 min
Jul 20, 1:55 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT50 min
Jul 20, 2:07 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT53 min
Jul 20, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT67 min
Jul 20, 3:00 PM EDTGale WarningMQT29 hr
Jul 20, 3:00 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMQT53 hr
Jul 20, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT41 min
Jul 20, 5:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTBaraga, Marquette66 min
Jul 20, 5:15 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT60 min
Jul 20, 5:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDickinson, Gogebic, Iron45 min
Jul 20, 5:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDickinson, Marquette37 min
Jul 20, 5:30 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTDickinson, Iron34 min
Jul 20, 5:34 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTDickinson, Marquette41 min
Jul 20, 5:42 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT63 min
Jul 20, 5:46 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTMarquette44 min
Jul 20, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDickinson, Iron36 min
Jul 20, 6:03 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT57 min
Jul 20, 6:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDelta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee52 min
Jul 20, 6:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTAlger, Marquette, Schoolcraft62 min
Jul 20, 6:22 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTDelta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee38 min
Jul 20, 6:22 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTAlger, Marquette38 min
Jul 20, 6:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDickinson, Menominee49 min
Jul 20, 6:53 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTDelta27 min
Jul 20, 6:58 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTAlger26 min
Jul 20, 7:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningMQTAlger2 hr
Jul 20, 7:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTAlger, Schoolcraft19 min
Jul 20, 7:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTMenominee44 min
Jul 20, 7:23 PM EDTTornado WarningMQTDelta, Menominee52 min
Jul 20, 7:27 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT63 min
Jul 20, 7:34 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMQT56 min
Jul 20, 7:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMQTDelta, Schoolcraft19 min

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.