Photo: Grand Haven lakeshore (Jake Mellema)
The area's National Weather Service offices have started a new series of products for beach and boating enthusiasts. It's called the "Surf Zone Forecast" and brings together several pieces of information that are relevant for folks planning to be at the lakeshore on Lake Michigan.
This is the link to the NWS Grand Rapids website for this information.
One of the best things about that site is the additional safety information available.
Here's a sample of the text version of the forecast:
MUSKEGON-----------------------------------------
INCLUDING THE BEACHES OF...MUSKEGON STATE PARK...
PJ HOFFMASTER STATE PARK...DUCK LAKE STATE PARK...
PERE MARQUETTE PARK...MEINERT PARK
559 AM EDT MON MAY 18 2009
TODAY
RIP CURRENT RISK....HIGH.
WAVES...............1 TO 3 FEET BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE
AFTERNOON.
WATER TEMPERATURE...46 DEGREES.
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....AROUND 59.
BEACH WINDS.........SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
UVI INDEX...........7 - HIGH.
A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MEANS WIND AND/OR WAVE CONDITIONS
SUPPORT DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS. RIP CURRENTS ARE LIFE THREATENING
TO ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER.
TONIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COOL. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTH
WINDS AROUND 20 MPH. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET.
TUESDAY
PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET.
TUESDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTH WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH. WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET.
WEDNESDAY
BREEZY. MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 70. SOUTH WINDS 20 TO
25 MPH. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET.
SUNRISE: 6:18 AM EDT
SUNSET: 9:05 PM EDT
All of this information was previously available in various locations, but the goal here is to make it easier for beachgoers to find the weather information they need.
Of course, much of this has always been featured in FOX 17 Weather's Lake Michigan forecast during the beach/boating season. Watch for that forecast to return soon!
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