The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued beach hazard statements across Wisconsin and Illinois, warning more than 5 million people not to enter Lake Michigan as life-threatening waves and dangerous rip currents batter the lakeshore. The warnings come as people are still visiting Lake Michigan beaches to soak up the last few days of summer. Although rip currents and dangerous waves are more commonly associated with ocean beaches, the Great Lakes can also be affected.
Additionally, after Labor Day, lifeguards do not staff Great Lakes beaches, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) executive director Dave Benjamin told Newsweek, so paying attention to the beach hazards warning is especially important. Strong winds cause the dangerous waves, NWS meteorologist Rafal Ogorek, who works at the Chicago office, told Newsweek. A beach hazards statement is a weather alert issued by the NWS when beach conditions can make it dangerous to enter the water.
This can include rip currents, longshore currents, or large waves. In many instances, the NWS warns people not to enter the water while a beach hazards statement is in place. On Thursday afternoon, the NWS offices in Milwaukee and Chicago issued beach hazards statements for the Lake Michigan shoreline.
For the Chicago warning, the beach hazards statement goes into effect Thursday night and will remain in place through Friday afternoon. Lake, Illinois, and Cook County fall under the warning area, including millions in the Chicago area. NWS meteorologists warned that swimming conditions would be "life-threatening," particularly for inexperienced swimmers.
"High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves of 3 to 6 ft expected," the alert said. "An additional period of dangerous swimming conditions is expected Friday night into early next week.
Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures." The Milwaukee alert had a similar message. It is in place for Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties from Friday morning through Friday afternoon. Waves as high as 4 feet were expected, along with dangerous currents.
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