Alert archive / Indiana / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026
Beach Hazards Statement 8, NWS Chicago, IL
NWS Chicago, IL issued this beach hazards statement at Jul 21, 2026, 2:33 AM CDT for Lake County, Porter County, Indiana; Cook County, Lake County, Illinois. It took effect at Jul 21, 2026, 4:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 36 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 21, 2026, 2:33 AM CDT (07:33 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jul 21, 2026, 4:00 PM CDT
- Expired
- Jul 23, 2026, 4:00 AM CDT
- In force
- 36 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Chicago, IL
Counties Cook County, IL, Lake County, IL, Lake County, IN, Porter County, IN
The radar
The Chicago radar (KLOT), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:36 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 206 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 321 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -255 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1235 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 93 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 240 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
The text
As transmitted.
146 WHUS43 KLOT 210733 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 INZ001-002-211545- /O.NEW.KLOT.BH.S.0008.260721T2300Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches expected. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...From this evening through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-211545- /O.NEW.KLOT.BH.S.0008.260721T2100Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches expected. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...From this afternoon through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
8 follow-up statements
056 WHUS43 KLOT 211448 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 948 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 INZ001-002-212300- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.260721T2300Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 948 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches expected. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...From this evening through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-212300- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.260721T2100Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 948 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches expected. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...From this afternoon through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
405 WHUS43 KLOT 212126 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 426 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 INZ001-002-220530- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.260721T2300Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 426 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 6 to 9 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-220530- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 426 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 7 to 10 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...Through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
845 WHUS43 KLOT 220203 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 903 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 INZ001-002-221015- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 903 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 6 to 9 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-221015- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 903 PM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 7 to 10 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...Through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
155 WHUS43 KLOT 220737 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 237 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 INZ001-002-221545- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 237 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches occurring. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-221545- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 237 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents at Lake Michigan beaches occurring. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...Through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
475 WHUS43 KLOT 221513 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 1013 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 INZ001-002-222315- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 1013 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents occurring at Lake Michigan beaches. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-222315- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 1013 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents occurring at Lake Michigan beaches. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook, and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
636 WHUS43 KLOT 222003 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 303 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 INZ001-002-230415- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T1200Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 303 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 4 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$ ILZ006-103-104-230300- /O.CON.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 303 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves 3 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE...Lake IL, Northern Cook and Central Cook Counties. * WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. For information on swim advisories or bans at Chicago beaches: www. cpdbeaches. com. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
094 WHUS43 KLOT 230217 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 917 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ILZ006-103-104-230330- /O.CAN.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0300Z/ Lake IL-Northern Cook-Central Cook- 917 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IS CANCELLED... Waves continue to subside late this evening. Accordingly, the Beach Hazards Statement has been cancelled. $$ INZ001-002-230900- /O.EXT.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0900Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 917 PM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...High wave action and dangerous currents expected at Lake Michigan beaches. * WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties. * WHEN...Until 4 AM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Swimming conditions will be life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, or other shoreline structures. && $$
945 WHUS43 KLOT 230832 CFWLOT Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Chicago IL 332 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026 INZ001-002-230945- /O.EXP.KLOT.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260723T0900Z/ Lake IN-Porter- 332 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 4 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING... Waves continue to subside and no longer support a Moderate or High Swim Risk. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Jul 21, 1:51 AM CDT, 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- There remains a 30% chance for a severe storm to develop before daybreak with damaging hail as the main threat.
- A series of cold fronts will move through the area today leading to a period of cooler temperatures tonight through Wednesday night.
- Large waves will make swimming dangerous at all southern shore Lake Michigan beaches this evening through early Thursday morning.
- A trend toward warmer and more seasonable temperatures is expected toward the end of the week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:51 AM CDT, 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
151 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There remains a 30% chance for a severe storm to develop
before daybreak with damaging hail as the main threat.
- A series of cold fronts will move through the area today
leading to a period of cooler temperatures tonight through
Wednesday night.
- Large waves will make swimming dangerous at all southern shore
Lake Michigan beaches this evening through early Thursday
morning.
- A trend toward warmer and more seasonable temperatures is
expected toward the end of the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 151 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026
Per recent GOES-19 water vapor imagery and a hand surface
analysis, a 994 mb surface low pressure system is moving
eastward through central Ontario early this morning. A cold
front extends southward away from the center of the low pressure
system through central Wisconsin and across northern Iowa. A
ribbon of lower 70 degree dew points extends from the middle
Mississippi River Valley northeastward toward the Door County
Peninsula ahead of the front. Regional RAOBS and recent AMDAR
soundings out of ORD/MDW depict an inversion between about 850
and 750mb above which lapse rates exceed 7 K/km. The resulting
thermodynamic profile is supporting a broad region of MUCAPE
>2000 J/kg ahead of the front early this morning. Meanwhile, an
upper-level short-wavelength trough is racing into the Great
Lakes region anchored by a seasonably strong upper-level jet
streak (105kt at 300mb, per the 00Z MPX RAOB). Pressure falls on
the order of 6mb/6hr in eastern Ontario ahead of the low
pressure system are supporting a 925-850mb low-level jet across
the Lower Great Lakes, as confirmed by 45 to 50kt of flow at 2km
sampled by the KLOT VWP.
Over the past few hours, have been watching a roughly 50 mile
wide area of percolating radar returns first develop in eastern
Iowa and then cross into northwestern Illinois. The radar
returns appear to be associated with isentropic ascent (via the
LLJ) interacting with the base of the capping inversion and are
prototypical of nocturnal attempts for thunderstorms to initiate
within a steep mid-level lapse rate environment. Thus far,
attempts for sustained convection have been subdued likely owing
to synoptic-scale subsidence along the right exit region of the
aforementioned upper-level jet streak centered in Wisconsin and
on the northeastern flank of an expansive MCS moving into
northern Missouri. However, do have concern that continued
moistening at the base of the cap will eventually allow one or
two storms to develop at some point early this morning,
particularly in the 3 to 6 AM window over the Chicago
metropolitan area as the upper-level shortwave makes its closest
approach. Provided a storm does develop, strong effective shear
(60kt in the convective layer oriented due easterly) would
support splitting supercells with a threat for damaging hail.
Will maintain a 30% chance of storms through the morning for
this threat keeping in mind it equates to a 70% chance a storm
doesn't develop.
The threat for storms will end by daybreak as the low-level jet
peels eastward and subsidence increases in the wake of the
upper-level short-wavelength trough. Winds will gradually turn
northwesterly through the morning as the frontal boundary works
through the area, though not before temperatures have an
opportunity to bounce into the low to mid 80s. Later this
afternoon, a secondary front will race southward down Lake
Michigan leading to a northerly wind shift and more noticeable
drop in temperatures. The southward advection of a seasonably
cool airmass (850mb temperatures tumbling toward +10C) atop the
relatively warm waters of Lake Michigan (near +23C) will set the
stage for a rare July lake effect rain shower set-up along and
behind the front along the northeastern IL and northwestern IN
shoreline. In fact, would not be surprised for a waterspout or
two to develop particularly along any focused convergence bands
overnight. Waves will quickly build in the wake of the front
leading to a High Swim Risk after sunset at all southern Lake
Michigan beaches.
On Wednesday, an upper-level wave embedded in resident broad
upper-level cyclonic flow will ripple over the Lower Great
Lakes. Another bout of low-level cold air advection will keep
temperatures seasonably cold with highs around 70 degrees. Can
easily envision stratocumulus clouds filling the skies with
perhaps a few sprinkles by late morning owing to steep low-level
lapse rates outside of continued scattered lake effect rain
showers. Continued northerly winds down the fetch of Lake
Michigan will maintain dangerous swimming conditions at all Lake
Michigan beaches through the entire day.
Wednesday night, the cyclonic shear axis of the aggregate
upper-level troughing will shift eastward toward Lower
Michigan, setting the stage for clouds to clear. Overnight lows
will be cool if not locally chilly with a few upper 40s readings
not out of question near the Wisconsin state line.
Our brief taste of fall during the middle of summer will be
short-lived as large-scale upper-level ridging begins to
rebuild across the central United States toward the end of the
week. Accordingly, temperatures will incrementally increase
Thursday onward with a return of highs in the upper 80s to lower
90s by this weekend. We continue to see a signal for a
convective event in the general region sometime in the July
27-29 timeframe.
Borchardt
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1222 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026
Key messages for the 06Z TAF period:
* Still seeing a chance for thunderstorms after 06Z into the
predawn hours.
* Gusty northerly winds Tuesday evening into Wednesday.
The potential is still alive and well for a period of scattered
thunderstorms overnight into the predawn hours. A newly-
developed cluster of convective showers is already moving across
NW IL and closing in on RFD VCY. RFD may see showers and maybe
a storm nearby prior to 06Z, with chances building all around
after 06Z. Storms could linger into the predawn hours of
Tuesday, possibly even stretching into daybreak at MDW and
especially GYY. Some storms could be on the stronger side with
high winds and heavy rain leading to reduced vsbys. Given
current expectations, felt hanging onto PROB30s for storms was
appropriate. Look for tactical AMDs as confidence builds.
W winds will build in the wake of this wave, going NW during
the morning and gusting to 20 to 25 kt for the late morning and
afternoon. Winds will subside some but remain breezy for the
evening and night as direction turns northerly. Winds may toggle
on either side of northerly from this evening through the
better part of Wednesday. NNW is favored through the early
evening before flopping to NNE for the night, then likely back
to NNW by dawn on Wednesday.
Doom
&&
.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...None.
IN...None.
LM...Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM CDT early this morning for the
IL and IN nearshore waters.
&&
Visit us at weather.gov/chicagoHazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 2:33 AM CDT, 0 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002- 010-011-019-220745- Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage- La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford- Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will- Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton- 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 /333 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Limited Thunderstorm Risk ending by daybreak. High Swim Risk Lake Michigan Beaches this evening. DISCUSSION... A thunderstorm may develop prior to daybreak and produce damaging hail. Most areas will be dry. Waves will build on Lake Michigan this evening leading to a High Swim Risk. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday... High Swim Risk Lake Michigan Beaches. Saturday and Sunday... Limited Thunderstorm Risk. DISCUSSION... A High Swim Risk will continue through early Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight. GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY: Moving toward the east at around 30 mph. LMZ740>745-220745- Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL- Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL- Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL- Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN- Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN- 233 AM CDT Tue Jul 21 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Hazardous conditions for small craft. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Wednesday... Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely. Saturday and Sunday... Limited Thunderstorm Risk. Borchardt Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 20, 10:14 PM CDT, 4 hours 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1014 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM Misc Mrn/Srf Hzd 3 NNW Lake Station 41.62N 87.26W
07/19/2026 LMZ744 IN Local Official
*** 1 FATAL ***
The Indiana DNR is reporting that a 22 year
old man drowned in Lake Michigan at
Marquette Park Beach. Preliminary
information is that the individual jumped
into waves and drifted into deeper water.
Wave heights were estimated between 2 and 3
feet at the time.
&&
BBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Chicago, IL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 8:37 PM CDT | Small Craft Advisory | LOT | 49 hr |
Nearby
Beach Hazards Statements in Indiana, 2026Beach Hazards Statements in Illinois, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.