Chicago Weather: High Waves, Dangerous Conditions Along Lakefront

by Laura Bannon and Mary Kay Kleist

CHICAGO (CBS)-- High waves are causing dangerous conditions along Chicago's lakefront.

The National Weather Service has issued a lakeshore flood advisory through 10 a.m. Thursday, and a beach hazards statement through Thursday evening.

"Large and battering waves, building up to 12 to 16 feet this afternoon and continuing through tonight into early Thursday morning. These large waves combined with above average lake levels will result in beach erosion, extremely dangerous conditions at the lakefront, as well as minor lakeshore flooding," a National Weather Service statement said.

As seen in a tweet from CBS 2 meteorologist Laura Bannon, joggers and bikes on the lakefront path are getting soaked by high waves. One woman was knocked down and dragged several feet by high waves before another jogger helped her up. Luckily, she was not swept into the lake.

Anyone living on or near the shore should take action to protect property from rising water levels, and people should stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming projections. Lakefront visitors also should stay off piers, jetties, breakwalls, and other structures along the shoreline.

Strong northerly winds of up to 40 mph were building waves up to 10 feet as of early Wednesday afternoon, and numerous waterspouts have prompted marine warnings along the lakefront, with the National Weather Service urging boaters not to go out onto the lake.

As winds swing more northwesterly tomorrow, the dangerous waves focus along the Indiana shoreline. Finally, late Thursday, the low-pressure system pulls away from the Chicago area, relaxing the wind flow.