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Verify: Is Lake Michigan cooler than usual this time of year?

You might want to test the water before jumping in head-first this weekend.

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - A major heat wave arrives in West Michigan Friday, and many people will seek relief on the big lake, but the temperature of Lake Michigan might come as a surprise to some.

13 On Your Side Verifies: Is Lake Michigan cooler than usual this time of year?

"Today was in the lower 60s, so it's still pretty chilly out there," said Matt Schwemin, a Grand Haven State Park ranger. "We ask people rather than just jumping into the water head first, that they would try the water first just to get their body acclimated to the temperature."

So don’t let the hot air trick you. The water traps in cool temperatures.

“The air temperature is extremely hot, they want to jump in and cool off and they’re not realizing how cool the water actually is," said Michael Sheahan with the Grand Haven Coast Guard. "So when you jump in that initial shock, your initial instinct is to gasp and take in a breath of air, if you're already in the water you take in that breath and you're sucking in water. That's usually what leads to drowning."

Is the water cooler than what’s typical this time of year? We can Verify, yes, it is.

“What were seeing right now is high 60s, low 70s," Sheahan said. "Usually this time of year we've been in the higher 70s, maybe lower 80s.”

But unlike most adults who don't dare yet take a dip, the kids don't seem to mind a bit.

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