Stay off piers, jetties and breakwaters on Lake Michigan, the National Weather Service warned on social media Sunday morning. Waves on the lake — which may reach as high as 7 feet in the Chicago area — could be “high enough to sweep you off and into the water,” the agency said.
The lake was already recording waves of 3 to 4 feet high by Sunday morning, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Leatherwood.
“Right now, it’s pretty dangerous, and we’re anticipating that it’s going to continue to increase throughout the day,” he said.
The weather service’s beach hazards statement — which covers Lake Michigan beaches in both Illinois and Indiana — was scheduled to stay in place through 10 p.m., though Leatherwood said the agency may need to extend it.
The weather service also issued a small craft advisory for portions of both Illinois and Indiana waters, including in the Chicago area.
As of 8:30 a.m. Sunday, swimming was prohibited on all Chicago beaches.
Luckily, Chicago was also seeing a respite from the high temperatures and humidity that plagued the city earlier in the weekend. Areas closer to the lake could expect highs in the mid-70s Sunday, Leatherwood said. Further inland, temperatures should peak in the low to mid-80s.
Temperatures were expected to increase later in the week, Leatherwood added, with heat indexes that could approach 100 degrees by midweek.
Visit the Tribune’s weather page for more information, and check back for updates.
