LAKESHORE HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
1158 AM CDT FRI SEP 30 2011
COOK-LAKE IN-
1158 AM CDT FRI SEP 30 2011
…RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING…
* RISK LEVEL…HIGH RISK TODAY AND TONIGHT.
* WAVES…WAVES 10 TO 16 FT TODAY FOR THE ILLINOIS LAKESHORE AND
WAVES 14 TO 18 FT TODAY FOR THE LAKE COUNTY INDIANA LAKESHORE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THERE IS A HIGH 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.
&&
…LOCALIZED LAKESHORE FLOODING POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON…
WAVES OF 10 TO 16 FT TODAY ALONG THE ILLINOIS LAKESHORE AND 14 TO
18 FT ALONG THE INDIANA LAKESHORE MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING TO
AREAS EXPOSED TO OR LESS PROTECTED AGAINST THE STRONG NORTHERLY
WINDS. MINOR FLOODING OF BIKE PATHS AND GRASSY AREAS NEAR
LAKESHORE DRIVE IN CHICAGO HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED.