Rip Current in Illinois

Events

23

Deaths

21

Injuries

10

Damage

None recorded

• Rip Currents in Illinois, September 10 to 11, 20202 deaths · 2 eventsIn the early morning of September 10th, a 20 year old male was walking with two friends near Oak Street Beach. He decided to jump into Lake Michigan and needed to be rescued by the Chicago Police Marine unit.
• Rip Currents in Illinois, August 22, 20212 deaths · 2 eventsNorth winds produced high waves of 4 to 6 feet on southern Lake Michigan on August 22nd. A 19 year old man drowned after jumping into Lake Michigan during the morning near West Pratt Avenue in Chicago.
• Rip Current in Illinois, November 4, 20182 deaths · 1 eventA ten member cold weather swimming team entered rough waters near the Park Avenue Beach and Boating Facility near Highland Park on November 4th and were quickly swept offshore. Strong southeast winds were producing waves between 8 feet and 10 feet at the Wilmette Buoy.
• Rip Current in Illinois, June 30, 20241 death · 3 injured · 1 eventFour people required rescuing while swimming near Lighthouse Beach during the afternoon of the 30th. Three of the four swimmers, two teenage girls and one adult woman, were rescued.
• Rip Currents in Illinois, August 18, 20241 death · 2 injured · 2 eventsA couple of water rescues were required at Illinois Lake Michigan beaches on the 18th. One 16 year old boy unfortunately succumbed to the dangerous swimming conditions.
• Rip Current in Illinois, December 21, 20181 death · 1 injured · 1 eventTwo men and one woman decided to jump into Lake Michigan near North Avenue Beach in Chicago just before 8 am on December 21st. The water temperature was 38 degrees and waves were estimated around 6 feet with north winds to 30 knots.
• Rip Current in Illinois, September 18, 20211 death · 1 injured · 1 eventStrong winds produced high waves and rip currents on September 18th. Three swimmers were struggling in the water off the breakwater near the Church Street boat ramp.
• Rip Current in Illinois, August 7, 20241 death · 1 injured · 1 eventTwo men required rescuing after jumping into the lake near 12th Street Beach on the afternoon of the 7th. Both men were recovered and transported to a local hospital in critical condition. One of the individuals later died in the hospital.
• Rip Current in Illinois, July 22, 20081 death · 1 eventNorth winds to 25 knots along with waves to 4 feet caused rip currents to develop at the pier of North Beach near Waukegan. A 13 year old boy drowned.
• Rip Current in Illinois, July 27, 20121 death · 1 eventStrong rip currents developed on Friday, July 27th. Four people were swimming near North Avenue Beach when a strong current carried them further out in the lake until they could no longer feel the lake's bottom.
• Rip Current in Illinois, May 24, 20121 death · 1 eventThree girls were dangling their feet off a breakwall near Loyola Park Beach near Greenleaf Avenue when a large wave knocked all three into the water during the late afternoon of Thursday, May 24th. Two were rescued, one of whom was taken to the hospital in good condition.
• Rip Current in Illinois, August 22, 20191 death · 1 eventAn 11 year old girl was swept into Lake Michigan by high waves while standing on a breakwall in the 700 block of East 31st Drive in Chicago. A 35 year old man jumped into Lake Michigan to help her. Both people were pulled out of the lake by lifeguards and firefighters.
• Rip Current in Illinois, July 16, 20201 death · 1 eventA 26 year old man jumped into Lake Michigan near Promontory Point to go for a quick swim. The man struggled and then went underwater. He was found about 40 minutes later only 10 feet from the rocks.
• Rip Current in Illinois, August 3, 20201 death · 1 eventA 15 year old boy went swimming with friends in Lake Michigan near Diversey Harbor. The boy was swept away from shore by high waves and went missing. His body was recovered several days later. Waves at the Wilmette buoy were around 7 feet.
• Rip Current in Illinois, August 11, 20221 death · 1 eventA 45 year old man was pulled from Lake Michigan near Grant Park in the early evening of August 11th. The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he died. North winds allowed waves to build to around 4 feet at the nearby Chicago buoy.
• Rip Current in Illinois, June 21, 20231 death · 1 eventA 19 year old woman was seen struggling in Lake Michigan near Chicago's Foster Beach before sinking below the surface. Rescue crews searched for the woman and eventually postponed the search until the next morning when her body was found.
• Rip Current in Illinois, August 15, 20231 death · 1 eventIn the early morning of August 15th, three young men jumped into Lake Michigan near Elder Lane Park Beach in Winnetka. The nearby Wilmette buoy was reporting waves 5 to 8 feet with northeast winds gusting to 30 mph. Two of the men were able to pull themselves out of the water.
• Rip Current in Illinois, July 1, 20241 death · 1 eventA 22 year old man went swimming in Lake Michigan early in the morning of July 1st and went missing. He was found unresponsive in the water near Montrose Beach. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Waves at the nearby Wilmette buoy were 3 to 5 feet.
• Rip Currents in Illinois, July 13 to 14, 20222 injured · 2 eventsA man went swimming in Lake Michigan during the evening of July 13th near Jarvis Beach in Chicago. He was pinned against a break wall by large waves. Three of his friends used a nearby life ring which they threw to him and were able to help pull him to shore.

Rip Current everywhereEvery kind of event in Illinois

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.