Do you know what to do if you're caught in a rip current? First, rip currents are powerful channels of flowing water moving away from the shore. They typically occur in low spots or breaks in the sandbar and even occur on the Great Lakes. To the untrained eye they are hard to spot so that's why it's important to know what to do if caught in one. You never want to try and swim against the rip current because even the most experienced swimmer can tire quickly. First and most, don't panic. You want to swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current. Once out swim towards the shore. If you're unable to swim out of the current let it take you out, then swim parallel to the shore. Once out, swim towards the shoreline. If you still are having trouble try to draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling to get the attention of the lifeguard.
Second threat for today will be water spouts. Cool air moving over the warm waters of Lake Michigan will help generate instability and allow for storms to form, especially early in the day Friday. Water spouts usually remain over the water and don't pose a threat to people on land but everyone once and a while they do move onshore and can become a tornado. As the low moves further east the threat for water spouts will diminish but rip currents and high waves remain a threat. A couple water spouts have already occured this morning near Ft. Sheridan Beach and only lasted about one minute.
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