Three Winnetka beaches shut down Wednesday, July 22, and swimmers across the North Shore lakefront are warned of life-threatening conditions as the National Weather Service issues a beach hazards statement for dangerous rip currents and high waves on Lake Michigan through Wednesday afternoon.
The Winnetka Park District closed Maple Street Beach, Elder Lane Beach, and Tower Road Beach for swimming, posting alerts on its status page urging residents to stay out of the water entirely. Lloyd Beach and the Stepan Family Boat Launch remained open.
The NWS beach hazards statement covers all Cook County lakefront beaches, including those in Wilmette and Glencoe. The Wilmette and Glencoe park districts had not posted official closure announcements as of Wednesday morning; residents should check directly with those agencies before heading to Gillson Park beach or Glencoe Beach.
National Weather Service forecasters warned that conditions are "life-threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers," and urged all swimmers and boaters to avoid the water until the hazard passes. Officials also cautioned against venturing onto piers, jetties, breakwalls, and other shoreline structures.
The warning comes during a deadly stretch on Lake Michigan. On Monday, July 20, a 22-year-old Gary, Indiana, man named Jalen Robinson died after he and two friends were jumping in waves at Marquette Park Beach, lost their footing, and drifted into deeper water, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. His friends made it back to shore. Robinson did not resurface.
The week before, Chicago police pulled a 70-year-old man from the lake near Montrose Harbor; he was taken to a hospital in critical condition after becoming completely submerged. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has recorded 35 Great Lakes drownings so far in 2026, 17 of them in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project as reported by Patch.
This is the second time in less than a week that North Shore beaches have closed. On Thursday, July 16, the Wilmette, Winnetka, and Glencoe park districts all shut their lakefronts due to hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke.
The hazard statement expires Wednesday afternoon. Thursday's forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 78 degrees.
North Shore community and culture week ahead
- Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m. — Glencoe: Green Bay Trail Day. Community ride along the trail connecting all five North Shore villages.
- Saturday, July 25, 9:30 a.m. — Wilmette: Family Storytime, Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave. Free; no registration required.
- Sunday, July 26, 2 p.m. — Wilmette: Free lecture, "American Prophets — Writers, Religion and Culture," Bahá'í House of Worship, 100 Linden Ave. One of only eight Bahá'í temples in the world. Free admission.
- Tuesday, July 28, 4 p.m. — Wilmette: Kid's Summer Scavenger Hunt: The Case of the Missing Fire Chief's Helmet, Wilmette History Museum, 609 Ridge Rd.
- Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m. — Wilmette: Village Board of Trustees meeting, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
