Warning for 'dangerous pounding' waves and currents issued for Lake Michigan

The National Weather Service in Sullivan has issued a beach hazards statement for most eastern Wisconsin counties, urging everyone to stay out of Lake Michigan today.

The dangerous swimming conditions will continue through this evening.

Those at beaches in Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc counties should stay away from the water and piers as large waves and dangerous currents are expected, the weather service said. These conditions can be life threatening.

More:Boy asked friend to make a phone video before he jumped into lake at Atwater beach and drowned

More:Milwaukee man who drowned in Lake Michigan on Saturday identified

More:With Great Lakes drownings spiking, rescuers look to education, technology

The warning reaches as far north as Sturgeon Bay and wraps around the southern half of the lake into Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

"Dangerous pounding waves and life-threatening currents are expected at the beaches," the warning from the Weather Service reads.

"Structural currents form along piers where longshore currents and wave action flow into the structure. Structural currents can sweep you out into deeper water along the pier structure."