CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Safety concerns from high waves and rip currents have caused Evanston to close its beaches for a second day in a row.
All six of Evanston's beaches, including the dog beach at Church Street, were closed Friday, according to a release from the city. On Saturday, the beaches remained closed for swimming, but the sand area of the dog beach was open. Still, dogs will not be allowed to go into the water today.
The National Weather Service has issued a statement saying there is a high risk of rip currents along the lakefront through 10 p.m. Saturday.
On Friday the Chicago Park District enacted swim bans at most city beaches and swim advisories at the others because of the dangerous conditions.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, according to the weather service. High wave action and dangerous swimming conditions are expected through Saturday at beaches throughout the area, as well as in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana.
The weather service has also issued a small craft advisory, in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday, along the lake for an area ranging from Winthrop Harbor on the north to Michigan City, Ind. The weather services forecasts waves of 6 to 9 feet high along the Illinois lakeshore and 9 to 12 feet, which will subside to 6 to 9 feet, along the Indiana lakeshore.
Experts said when swimmers get caught up in a rip current, they get pulled out far from the shore, panic sets in, their bodies tire from the effort to get back to land and they go under. Their best advice is to swim close to the shore, and not to go too deep – and do not swim alone.
Three people drowned on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan last weekend. University of Chicago's Dr. Donald Liu drowned trying to rescue two 12-year-old boys. He saved their lives – the pediatric surgeon did not survive.
The number of riptide-related fatalities in Lake Michigan is among the worst in comparison to the rest of the Great Lakes. The eastern shore extends about 15-20 miles from Chicago to the state of Michigan, including the Indiana border.
There are quite a few events scheduled for North Avenue Beach this weekend, including a volleyball tournament featuring former rapper Vanilla Ice. Attendees and beach-goers are encouraged to swim safely.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
