Waves Prompt Warning For Lakefront Visitors, Beach Closures
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Very strong winds from the north created high waves on on Lake Michigan on Tuesday, prompting the National Weather Service warn people to stay out of the lake and to be cautious on the Lakefront path and for a number of Chicago area beaches to close.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Megan Glaros reports crashing waves could inundate the shoreline, making the Lakefront Path dangerous for joggers and cyclists from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning or afternoon, as waves of 6 to 9 feet hit the southern tip of the lake, from Chicago to northwest Indiana.
Rogue waves could be as high as 15 feet, so anyone along the lakefront should avoid going onto the breakwalls along the edge of the lakefront.
Rip currents will also be a factor for swimmers through Wednesday.
"Building waves and increasing winds will create increasingly more hazardous swimming conditions this afternoon into tonight for Lake Michigan beaches," the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather statement. "Very large waves will create very hazardous swimming conditions Wednesday morning for Lake Michigan beaches. Waves will slowly subside Wednesday afternoon and evening, though swimming conditions are expected to remain hazardous through at least sunset Wednesday evening."
Chicago closed the following beaches:
Fargo Beach
Foster Beach
Hartigan Beach
Howard Beach
Jarvis Beach
Juneway Beach
Lane Beach
North Avenue Beach
Oak Street Beach
Ohio Street Beach
Osterman Beach
Rogers Beach
All beaches in Evanston were also closed.
The wind will also cool things off, as high temperatures should reach only the low 80s, or possibly the high 70s.
