Possible seiche prompts swim ban

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| Thursday, July 03, 2008 | (1 comment(s))

CHICAGO | Park District officials ordered a swimming ban Wednesday on all of Chicago's beaches because of a possible seiche, or large wave.

Seiches are caused when strong, sustained winds cause large amounts of water to move from one part of a lake to another.

The National Weather Service says a storm front crossed over the lake Wednesday afternoon, causing a 2-foot drop of water levels on the east, or Michigan, side of the lake. Officials say that a result, a 2-foot rise or better is possible on the Illinois side.

The weather service says fluctuating water levels will be dangerous for waders or swimmers along Chicago's lake shore. It has also advised people to evacuate docks, piers and breakwalls. -- AP

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Dave wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:35 AM:

" For years I kept my boats docked in the East Chicago marina. Two years ago we had about a four foot seiche occur where the water level dropped that much in about five minutes. That is why the docks there are floaters. Quite a miricle of science if you ask me. To watch boats floating in the water then five minutes later they are resting on mud is quite a sight. "

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