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A stout upper-level trough is pushing across portions of the Great Lakes today and extremely cold air and high winds are moving in behind this trough. The weather is a bit of a mess in the Chicago area today with lake-effect snow showers, high winds, and large waves expected this afternoon.
Lake effect snow showers are expected to increase in coverage and intensity this afternoon bringing the possibility of 1-3″ of snow in the Chicago area. High wind warnings are in effect for the Illinois and Indiana counties that border Lake Michigan as winds of 35-40mph are possible in these areas with gusts up to 60mph possible in lakefront locations.
These winds are causing some huge problems along the coast of Lake Michigan as they have helped to create large waves. Check out this Lakeshore Wind Advisory from the NWS Chicago office:
* LAKE SHORE FLOODING…LARGE AND BATTERING WAVES OF UP TO 23 FT
WILL RESULT IN FLOODING NEAR THE LAKE. SOME OF THESE LARGE WAVES
HAVE RESULTED IN WATER ONTO PORTIONS OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE IN
DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AS OF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
* TIMING…THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAVES WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS…MINOR BEACH EROSION AND FLOODING OF COASTAL AREAS
CAN BE EXPECTED. STAY AWAY FROM PIERS AND BREAK WALLS…
OCCASIONAL ROGUE WAVES ARE LIKELY AND COULD STRIKE WITH LITTLE
WARNING AND SWEEP YOU OUT INTO THE LAKE.
Lakeshore Drive has been shut down in one direction as waves have flooded portions of the road.
https://twitter.com/tdoobiel/status/528269789085831169