Can a rip current occur in Lake Michigan?

(WOOD) — The sound of waves crashing onto Lake Michigan's shore is a staple of West Michigan summers. Beneath those waves are something far more dangerous: rip currents. A rip current is a strong, often narrow current that flows outward into the water. If you think you can outswim a rip current, think again.



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Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.

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The way to survive is simple. Don't panic as you flip, float and follow. “Flip over onto your back float to see where the current is carrying you and then follow a path perpendicular to the current and back to safety,” said Pratt. A buddy system in the water or someone on shore to watch is also extremely important.

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These are terms that people commonly use to describe dangerous currents. However, since there are no tides in the Great Lakes (needed to form a rip tide) and currents don't pull a person down under the water (undertow), they are a bit inaccurate. Instead, we call these dangerous currents.

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Not only is this lake massive - spanning 307 miles in either direction - but its shores also run parallel, causing unique wave shapes. The shapes of these waves are what contribute to rip tides, which are one of the most dangerous things swimmers can encounter in the water.

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Climate change is fueling more extreme Lake Michigan Water levels, along with stronger winds and heavier storms. These conditions exacerbate erosion, beach loss, and damage along the shore.

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Dreyer successfully swam across Lake Michigan from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to Ludington State Park 25 years ago, according to previous reporting.

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Most Dangerous Currents at Lake Michigan These typically come from swimming at a beach with sandbars, which are a common feature around Lake Michigan. Rip currents are a constant danger in any sufficiently large body of water.

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Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

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