High Winds, Dangerous Waves on Tap Thursday in Chicago Area

Waves of five-to-eight feet are expected in Cook County, according to the National Weather Service

Wet weather on Wednesday night will give way to high winds and dangerous waves on Lake Michigan, prompting a Lakeshore Flood Advisory for the Chicagoland area.

According to the National Weather Service, the advisory will take effect beginning at midnight, with 35-to-45 mph winds driving waves that could reach 10 feet in northwest Indiana.

Beaches along the lake could experience flooding due to the conditions, and Chicago’s bike path along Lake Michigan could also be impacted by the high waves.

The advisory will last until 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.

NBC 5 Storm Team says waves of 5-to-8 feet are possible in Cook County due to the high winds, and 3-to-6 foot waves are possible in Lake County in northern Illinois.

Further complicating matters for residents are high water levels on Lake Michigan, caused by heavy spring rains. Record-water levels have been recorded in several of the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, which approached record levels in the month of May.

After the winds begin to die down, nicer weather is expected Friday, with high temperatures reaching the high-70s, but the weekend will bring more rain and storms, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

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