Part of Chicago's Lakefront Trail was closed Thursday as high winds and waves threatened to bring flooding to the lakeshore.
Chicago's Office of Emergency Management said the city's park district closed the trail from Fullerton to Ohio due to a Lake Shore Flood Advisory.
According to the National Weather Service, the advisory took effect 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 alert warned.
According to the National Weather Service, Montrose Beach was "completely inundated" as of 12:20 p.m.
The advisory will last until 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.
NBC 5 Storm Team meteorologists say 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.
