Large waves likely on Lake Michigan

Hurricane Sandy has been making her presence known up and down the east coast and will continue to have a devestating impact on the mid-Atlantic and Northeast for the next couple of days.  With strong winds over 90 mph, beach erosion, coastal flooding, high storm surge, damaging winds gusts, inland flooding, power outages and even heavy, wet snow...Sandy is not holding back anything!

Further west the effects of Sandy will be felt across the Great Lakes with an increase in the wind, beginning later today and lasting through Tuesday night.  Wind gusts near 50 mph are expected near the shores of Lake Michigan this afternoon with an increase potentially to 60 mph by Tuesday.  With a full northerly fetch down Lake Michigan the strong winds could cause wave heights between 20-25 feet, especially for the southern shores in northwest Indiana and riding near Cook County in Illinois.  Storm Warnings, Gale Warnings and Lakeshore Flood Warnings have all been issued for the counties surrounding the southern tip of Lake Michigan.  Not only will the winds impact Lake Michigan but the other lakes as well.  Flooding could be possible for local bike paths and even Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

Closer to home winds won't be as gusty but there will be occasional wind gusts near 35-40 mph.