GRAND HAVEN, Michigan (WOOD) – Water temperatures at Grand Haven State Park are cooler than those in Muskegon and Holland, reaching 47 degrees as of Friday morning.

Temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius continue a week-long trend that is making campers’ plans in the park difficult.

“We’ve been here for about a week and a half,” Kurt Prather told News 8. “We’ve only been putting our feet in. Just long enough to say ‘get up, too cold’ and get out.”

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The freezing water temperatures in summer pose a particular safety risk. Cold shock from immersion in cold water is common, especially on warmer days. Symptoms include increased, steep heart rate, rapid breathing and mental confusion. Taken together, they increase the risk of drowning, especially in weak swimmers or people with heart and lung disease.

In addition, prolonged exposure to cold water can lead to hypothermia. The National Weather Service and local Department of Natural Resources rangers warn that both cold shock and hypothermia are possible in warmer temperatures than many swimmers realize.

“When you’re in water where the temperature is 40, 50, 59, or even 70 degrees Fahrenheit, your body temperature can drop faster than you think,” Andrew LundBorg, park ranger at Grand Haven State Park, told News 8.

Water temperatures have been rising throughout Friday and favourable wind conditions will keep them rising throughout the weekend.

“Winds like the ones we have today from the south and southwest will normally cause temperatures to rise again quite quickly,” LundBorg added.

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