CHICAGO — Travelers planning a late-summer escape to the beaches of the Great Lakes should think twice before packing their swimsuits. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of beach-hazard statements that blanket Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, placing large sections of the Lake Michigan and Lake Erie shoreline under a high-risk classification for rip currents, strong longshore currents and surf topping out at 5 to 9 feet. Chicago and other lakefront cities are once again on alert as fast-moving weather systems whip up water conditions that can turn a midweek dip into a life-threatening rescue.
Why the National Weather Service rang the alarm
According to multiple NWS offices, the warnings stem from a pulse of…..