High Swim Risk Issued For Lake Michigan Shore
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Lake Michigan beach-goers beware: Swimming conditions all along the shoreline--from the Wisconsin border into Northwest Indiana--are potentially dangerous today.
The National Weather Service has issued a high swim risk due to the potential of high waves and strong rip currents. The beach hazard remains in effect until Tuesday at 10 p.m.
Waves are expected to reach three to seven feet, making swimming conditions hazardous to anybody entering the water. Rip currents typically occur in shallow water and can pull swimmers out into deeper water.
"Dangerous pounding waves and life-threatening rip currents are expected at the beaches," the NWS said in a statement. "People visiting the beaches should stay out of the water."
If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then you can swim toward shore. Rip currents are typically narrow and once you swim to the side, you can escape.
Rip currents don't pull swimmers under the water, but rather away from shore. Swimmers drown when the panic and try to swim toward shore against the current and become exhausted.
Current lake temperatures are averaging in the mid 60s.
A strong 20 mph breeze off the lake will keep the waves up and the temperatures down during the day on Monday.
The forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with highs in the 70s.
