People Told To Stay out of Lake Michigan Amid 'Life-Threatening' Conditions
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Beachgoers across several states bordering Lake Michigan were warned to avoid the water on Thursday as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a series of beach hazards in response to dangerous waves and life-threatening currents.
Why It Matters
Lake Michigan remains a popular recreation destination for millions in the Midwest, especially over holiday weekends. Dozens of people drown in Lake Michigan each year, according to the Association of Aquatic Professionals.
Beach Hazard Statements and Small Craft Advisories warn not just of inconvenience, but of conditions that have repeatedly proven fatal, reinforcing why these official warnings must be heeded by the public.
What To Know
Officials warned that northerly winds of up to 30 miles per hour and waves up to 7 feet high posed dangerous conditions to people on Lake Michigan in Lake County in Indiana and Porter County in Illinois. People were urged to avoid swimming and not to venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls or other shoreline structures.
Lake Michigan waves break in Chicago.
Lake Michigan waves break in Chicago.
Jose Carlos Castro Antelo/Getty
Waves were expected to be slightly smaller in northern and central Cook County in Illinois but were still expected to be as high as six feet.
Warnings were in place through Thursday night.
"Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers," the alert issued by NWS Chicago said.
A beach hazards statement also warned of dangerous lake conditions in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, forecast area.
Along with dangers to swimmers, inexperienced boaters were warned to avoid Lake Michigan because of high waves and strong winds. Conditions are expected to be "hazardous" to smaller boats and were expected to persist until about 1 a.m. local time on Friday in the Chicago forecast region.
In addition to the dangerous waves and currents, lake temperatures are in the 50s, posing additional hazards to any beachgoers.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Zachary Yack, who works at the Chicago office, told Newsweek: "We get these periods of higher waves and currents anytime we have strong onshore winds here. It's pretty common off and on throughout the summer months. This is the first one of this season."
Yack added: "This is the weekend that's the unofficial start of summer for people, so a lot of times people go out to the beaches to get into their summer moods."
NWS Chicago in a beach hazards statement: "Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures."
What Happens Next
Beach hazard statements and small craft advisories will remain in effect in affected counties until conditions improve, with the NWS continuing to monitor wind and wave patterns. Updates and additional warnings will be communicated via official channels and local media. Residents and visitors are advised to follow local advisories for the latest updates and to stay clear of dangerous shoreline areas until the all-clear is given.
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