Rip Current Statement
LAKESHORE HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
517 PM CDT WED JUN 8 2011
INCREASED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT…
LAKE IL-COOK-
517 PM CDT WED JUN 8 2011
RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING…
* TIMING…THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS…NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH AND WAVES OF 3 TO 6 FEET WILL CREATE A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE…WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS… JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT…DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT…BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.
PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM