Another round of possibly damaging waves along Lake Michigan

Lions Park Beach on November 27th, 2019

After what was one of the worst lakeshore storms in recent memory just before Thanksgiving, we are now watching for another round of intense waves and dangerous beach conditions.

Conditions will turn breezy late Sunday into Monday as an area of low pressure moves to our east. Unfortunately, the winds will be northwesterly at their strongest, meaning the Lake Michigan shoreline will get hit with large waves beginning Sunday evening. 

That will especially be true for beaches in Northwest Indiana, including La Porte County. 

In fact, Lake County and Porter County are under a Lakeshore Flood Warning from 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday for wind gusts of 30-40 mph and constant waves of 8-12 feet. 

La Porte County is under a Lakeshore Flood Advisory for wind gusts up to 30 mph and waves of 6-10 feet. 

While not technically under any sort of official National Weather Service alert, Berrien County will see blustery northwest winds gusting to 25 mph and waves upwards of 7-9 feet.

These conditions will not be as intense or destructive as what we saw the day before Thanksgiving, but the breezy winds and large waves will combine to cause dangerous conditions along the lakeshore.

Not only will the waves and water likely rise up and over the shoreline and piers at times, but additional beach and dune erosion is expected along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

More damage to sidewalks and other structures along the immediate lakeshore is also possible, especially on northwest-facing beaches.