CHICAGO (AP) — Officials are warning Lake Michigan beachgoers and boaters about dangerous waves and strong currents and have issued warnings for most of the lake’s shoreline in the coming days.
The National Weather Service issued beach hazards and small boat advisories for Monday from the Milwaukee area south through Chicago, saying people should stay out of the water with waves possibly reaching 6 feet high.
A beach hazard is in effect for the LaPorte and Berrien Counties shoreline Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. The National Weather Service says waves are forecast to reach 10 feet high in those areas Tuesday evening.
The warnings come after 10 and 14-year-old Chicago boys died after being pulled from the lake at Indiana Dunes State Park in separate incidents Saturday.
Lakeshore Hazard Message National Weather Service Northern Indiana 1038 AM EDT Mon Aug 20 2018 INZ003-MIZ077-202245- /O.CON.KIWX.BH.S.0010.180821T1800Z-180823T0000Z/ La Porte-Berrien- 1038 AM EDT Mon Aug 20 2018 /938 AM CDT Mon Aug 20 2018/ ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * HIGH WAVE ACTION AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS EXPECTED... * STRONG RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED... * STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED... * OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...Winds will become north 15 to 25 mph Tuesday afternoon and will diminish to 10 to 20 mph from the north northwest Tuesday night into Wednesday. Waves will build to 6 to 10 feet Tuesday afternoon and will continue at 5 to 8 feet Tuesday night. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Life threatening waves and currents are expected at the beaches. People visiting the beaches should stay out of the water. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from the shore...which occur most often at low spots or breaks in sandbars. Rip currents can sweep you into deeper water. 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.
