Chicago Weather: Huge Waves Feared Along Chicago's Already Battered Lakefront
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Lake Michigan looks calm now, but that is about to change. In fact, we're about to see waves the highest we've seen in six years.
CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports the big waves come at a time when the lakefront is already beat up.
Red warning flags were up along the 18 miles of Chicago's lakefront trail. It's a sign of the dangers posed by the water -- and a signal of the active weather about to wash in.
Andrew Ruzkowski, who was enjoying the lake's beauty with his pup on Friday in Rogers Park, noticed the shoreline vanish due to the churning waters and erosion.
He is bracing for the up to 16-foot waves estimated to crash this weekend.
"The waves do worry me a little bit because I don't want more damage to the property around here," Ruzkowski said.
Crews have filled in tons of rock to stabilize what's left -- at the price tag of about $1 million.
There are barricades closing off portions of the lakefront trail just south of Fullerton Avenue, and both paths from North Avenue to Ohio Street.
The pedestrian path from 47th street to 51st street is also closed due to high water levels.
But they're warnings not everyone's heeding yet, CBS 2's Tara Molina found.
Charles Donahue and Courtney Ehlers walked right past the keep out signs.
They said police officers on bikes saw them and just waved. Why did they ignore the signs? "Because we know the lakefront fairly well."
However, they said, they won't be on the lakefront tomorrow.
The city says they'll have crews out monitoring conditions here and across the city
City trucks are already by the lake -- with workers adjusting the cargo of salt for fighting the potential for ice this weekend.
The city issued this caution to resident on Friday evening:
The National Weather Service has issued a Lakeshore Flood Warning in effect early Saturday morning until Sunday morning. Lakeshore flooding should be expected. The winds and high waves combined with record high lake levels could impact shoreline erosion. OEMC reminds the public to adhere to lakefront path closures, even if conditions look passable and safe. Some lakefront paths are already closed.
