Beach Hazards Warning Hits Berrien County, La Porte Shores
Dangerous waves up to 5 feet and powerful currents threatened swimmers and pier visitors along Lake Michigan Monday night into early Tuesday morning.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN — The National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana issued a Beach Hazards Statement for shoreline areas along Lake Michigan on Monday evening, warning of dangerous swimming conditions, high waves, and strong currents through early Tuesday morning.
The alert, first issued at 3:34 p.m. EDT on June 22 and updated at 10:52 p.m. EDT the same evening, remains in effect until 5:00 a.m. EDT Tuesday, June 23. The warning covers Northern Berrien and Southern Berrien counties in Michigan, as well as Northern La Porte County in Indiana.
Wave Heights and Current Dangers
Waves along the affected shorelines were forecast at 3 to 5 feet, with conditions expected to ease slightly to 2 to 4 feet overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Piers along the lakeshore were described as being heavily swamped by waves during the height of the hazardous conditions.
Strong currents accompanying the wave action pose a serious risk of pulling swimmers into deeper water, according to the NWS alert. High waves also create the danger of sweeping people off piers and into the lake.
Safety Warnings for Swimmers and Beachgoers
The National Weather Service urged residents and visitors to stay out of the water and away from piers during the statement period. Strong currents in Lake Michigan can develop rapidly and are difficult to escape even for experienced swimmers.
Berrien County, located in southwestern Michigan along the Lake Michigan shoreline, draws significant summer beach traffic at communities including New Buffalo and St. Joseph. Northern La Porte County in Indiana, which borders the same stretch of Lake Michigan, includes popular beach areas near Michigan City.
The Beach Hazards Statement was set to expire at 5:00 a.m. EDT, or 4:00 a.m. CDT, on Tuesday, June 23. Beachgoers were advised to check updated forecasts from the National Weather Service Northern Indiana office before returning to the water or the piers.
