The National Weather Service reported dangerous swimming conditions along the shoreline in Lake County Sunday, due to strong southerly winds that will generate waves of 3 to 5 feet, along with strong rip currents.
Although seasonal swimming in Lake Michigan from the city’s public beaches was allowed beginning Friday, the best and recommended action Sunday was to stay out of the water today, according to forecasters. That’s not just because of the possibility of strong winds, high waves and rip currents — the water’s also still too cold for comfort.There will be mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the 80s Sunday, according to Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
The weather service reported dangerous swimming conditions along the lakeshore in Lake County, Illinois Sunday, due to strong southerly winds that will generate waves of 3 to 5 feet, along with strong rip currents.Howard beach in Chicago on May 24, 2022. Chicago beaches opened on Friday for the Memorial Day weekend.
There’s also a moderate risk across most Chicago beaches, with wind gusts as strong as 30 to 40 mph, according to Yack. “Temperatures are still sitting in the low- to mid-50s so there is a chance you may deal with cold water shock and even some hypothermia after staying in the water too long,” Yack said. “If they are going to go in, definitely have a life vest present to avoid getting into some trouble with hypothermia.”Temperatures Monday will be in the mid to upper 80s and possibly reaching the 90s, according to Yack.