LAKESHORE HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
426 AM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
ILZ006-014-031730-
/O.EXT.KLOT.RP.S.0008.110803T1200Z-110804T0300Z/
LAKE IL-COOK-
426 AM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
…RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…
* TIMING…GUSTY NORTHERLY FLOW WILL OVERSPREAD LAKE MICHIGAN THIS
MORNING INTO THIS EVENING AS COOLER AIR MOVES ACROSS THE LAKE.
WINDS INCREASING TO 25 KTS WILL ALLOW WAVES TO GROW TO 3 TO 6 FT.
* IMPACTS…THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF 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.