Low Lake Michigan Water Levels May Affect Boating, Beachgoing in Winnetka

Lake Michigan water levels are down about 17 inches since June 2012.

  The water levels in Lake Michigan are down more than five feet since 1997 and the low lake levels could have significant launching hazards for boaters as well swimmers in along the North Shore, Glencoe News reported.  At Elder Lane Park beach, the swimming boundaries are currently only at waist level and moving swimmers further out could put swimmers in higher traffic boating areas, Glencoe News reported.

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High Winds, Huge Waves Expected Here Thanks to Hurricane Sandy

While the East Coast will get the brunt of the huge storm, the weather system also is prompting gale watch on Lake Michigan. Winds up to 60 mph and waves up to 22 feet are forecast.

As residents on the East Coast prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, the National Weather Service is warning of high waves and winds on Lake Michigan as well. The service has issued a gale watch in effect Monday night through Tuesday. The watch will be in effect for a stretch of the lake that starts in Sheboygan, WI, goes through Illinois and Indiana, and ends up at South Haven, MI. The affected area will be from 5 nautical miles from the shoreline to about the middle of the lake, the weather service said. Winds up to 60 mph are expected along the lakeshore from late Monday through Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service. This will cause waves up to 22 feet along the Cook County shoreline.  A lakeshore flood watch …

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Cougar Still at Large? Camera Fails to Catch the Cat

Officials aren’t ruling out the possibility of a cougar roaming the north shore even though the camera drew a blank.

After multiple unconfirmed sightings of a potential cougar in the north shore, Glencoe Public Safety’s attempts at catching the cat on film remain unsuccessful. Glencoe’s Animal Control Specialist Katie Sweeney said police installed a “cougar cam” at Dell Beach, only to be taken down after two weeks because it only captured photos of wildlife native to the village. And while there was another possible sighting of the cat on Saturday, there was no evidence to prove an animal of that magnitude was ever at the scene. “We actually had a report of a sighting this past Saturday, but our officers responded, checked out the area and there were no footprints,” Sweeny said. “The sighting was reported to be a cougar-sized animal in a tree. What would…

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Iowa Man Marathoning Through Patch Towns Around Lake Michigan

Steve Cannon is running 40 marathons in 40 days in hopes of raising money for cancer research.

An Iowa man is making his way along the North Shore during his 40 marathons in 40 days to help find a cure for cancer — and he’s looking for runners to join him.  Steve Cannon began his Run to Cure Cancer on Sunday at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL. He plans to run the 1,037 miles along the entire Lake Michigan coastline, the sixth-largest lake in the world. His trip will take him through many different towns, including some surrounding Milwaukee. Cannon has completed more than 30 marathons already according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, many of which have been 24-hour races, but his goal with this race is not the length of the journey, but to raise awareness and hope for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  Brian D. Meeks is documenting …

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Coast Guard Rescues Teens Stranded Near Winnetka

The girls were stuck in Lake Michigan for an hour after being thrown from a jet ski.

The Workout

Got a Bucket List? Take an Icy Dip in Lake Michigan

'Tis the season for Polar Plunges. Jump if you dare.

Looking to get your heart rate up this weekend? Well, if you want a little jolt, the Glencoe Park District is offering a chance to jump in the lake with their Leap in the Lake fundraiser Saturday morning. It's touted as a new fund-raising event in honor of the Park District's 100th anniversary, although personally I prefer the more traditional celebration of eating cake and ice cream. Polar plunges have become more common in recent years, but they are certainly not new. In Canada, “Polar Bear Swims” are a New Year's Day tradition. In fact, there is an annual event in Vancouver that dates back to 1920 and attracts several thousand participants each year. Leave it to those crazy Canadians to start the year off with a dip in icy water. Here …

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Strong Winds and High Waves Remain Likely This Morning

Forecast calls for winds up to 65 mph and waves up to 20 feet.

Mother Nature is not done with the North Shore yet. Yesterday's high winds and waves are expected to continue through the morning, tapering off some in the afternoon. According to the National Weather Service's high wind warning, which is in effect until 10 a.m.: "North to northest winds of 40 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are likely. The strongest winds will be over locations adjacent to Lake Michigan." The marine forecast predicts waves of 20 to 25 feet, which will go down to 15 to 20 feet this afternoon. Have you captured any photos or videos of the waves (from a safe distance)? Please share them with us by using the media uploader to the right or email your local editor.

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Matt Klinkert

5:52 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011

"Hey, buddy!" "Yeah...buddy?" "Want to parade around in crashing waves, heavy rain and 60-mph winds?" "You know what, buddy?" "What?" "Count me in! Maybe next week we can do the Charleston on the roof of an abandoned barn?" "BFFs forevs!"   more ›

High Wind Watch in Effect Wednesday

The National Weather Service has issued an alert for areas near Lake Michigan.

A high wind watch for areas near Lake Michigan has been issued by the National Weather Service from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Areas under the watch include Lake and Cook counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. Winds of 30 to 40 MPH with gusts up to 60 MPH are expected. The very strong winds “could result in minor wind damage…downed tree limbs and power lines,” according to the National Weather Service.   To read the entire story, visit the Chicago Tribune. For more information, visit the National Weather Service.

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Council Reviews Possible Flood Prevention Plans

Improvements include a massive tunnel project to funnel water to Lake Michigan.

After a three-and-a-half hour study session Tuesday evening, the Winnetka Village Council took big steps toward finding solutions to the area's flooding troubles. Thomas Burke, Jr., of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, presented a 25-page packet outlining the flood risk reduction assessment for the village, encompassing drainage improvements and conceptual plans, as well as cost estimates. Areas studied include North of Willow Road, South of Willow Road, the Winnetka Avenue underpass, the Cherry Street outlet, the Spruce Street outlet (including the Lloyd Park Outlet and Tower Road area), the ravine and Greenwood Avenue. Earlier: Winnetka's Flooding Bouts are Legendary Trustee Christopher Rintz congratulated Burke’s firm on a “job well …

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Winnetka's Flooding Bouts are Legendary

A look back at the village's damp legacy and what the powers that be have done to correct it.

It's no secret, Winnetka, there is an age-old problem. Since the village's mucky beginnings in the mid-19th century, floodwater has invaded homes, enveloped streets and transformed backyards into backwaters. To add to that list, it has disabled cars, submerged basements, turned major roadways into canoe thoroughfares and even delayed, by two months, one of the largest floodwater mitigation projects undertaken in U.S. history: the creation of the Skokie Lagoons from 1933 to 1942. Read more: After the July Flood: Winnetka Prodded Into Action “We had to put everything in the basement, that could be moved, up [to the first] floor,” recalled one resident in Winnetka Talk, during the 1938 flood that dumped 7.5 inches of rainwater that delayed …

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