Rip Current — Northern Houghton, Michigan

2020-08-11 · Northern Houghton, Michigan

Event narrative

The Houghton County Sheriff's department responded to a distress call of four people swept out by a current into Lake Superior when a sandbar collapsed at Big Traverse Beach. Several people on the beach assisted in the rescue by using inflatable tubes and were able to get all four people back to shore. One of the rescued, a 12-year-old boy from Commerce, MI, later died when he was being airlifted to the University of Michigan Children's Hospital.

Wider weather episode

Four people needed to be rescued after a sandbar collapsed at Big Traverse Bay Beach and a strong current swept the people out into Lake Superior. One of the rescued, a 12-year-old boy from Lower Michigan, was taken to Aspirus Keweenaw emergency room and then later died in flight to the University of Michigan Children's Hospital.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 915468. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.