RV travelers planning to spend the weekend at Illinois Beach need to consider lake and land hazards separately by timing. A Beach Hazards Statement issued by the NWS Chicago office at 3:33 a.m. CDT on September 18 forecast 3- to 6-foot waves and dangerous currents along the Lake County and northern and central Cook County shores. The statement was in effect until 3 p.m. on the 18th.
The end of the initial statement Friday afternoon did not mean weekend water recreation would immediately become safe. The same statement projected that hazardous swimming conditions could return from the night of the 18th into early the following week. Periods of heavy rain were also expected from late on the 18th through the night of the 20th, making drainage conditions in and around campgrounds important.
Areas Affected
Lake County, included in the beach-hazard area, encompasses the Illinois Beach State Park travel area. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says the park’s southern unit has 220 electric campsites, along with shower and sanitary facilities. The availability of overnight accommodations is separate from whether it is safe to enter the lake.
An NWS rainfall outlook issued at 4:32 a.m. on the 18th identified areas around and north of I-80 as likely to receive comparatively heavier rainfall. Widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches were possible through Sunday night, with higher amounts in some locations. Travelers should consider rain impacts not only on routes through Waukegan and Chicago, but also on approaches through Rockford, Elgin, Aurora, and Joliet.
Those amounts were a forecast for future rainfall, not an indication that any particular highway was currently closed. The main impacts identified by the NWS were flooding in low-lying, poorly drained areas and rising stream levels. The final campground access segment or local roads crossing streams should be checked separately from major roads.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
The NWS advises people not to enter the water during hazardous-wave conditions and to stay away from lakeshore structures such as piers and breakwalls. Avoid going to the end of such structures to view waves up close or take photos. Follow on-site signs and directions from staff.
Weekend guests should ask the campground about drainage at low-lying sites and emergency exit routes, and ensure they can receive alerts during periods of rain. If water covers a road, even a high-clearance RV should not proceed; turn around instead. If a flood warning or evacuation order is issued, follow the instructions rather than trying to keep to a reservation schedule.
Photo: NOAA/NWS Chicago / Original photo page (public domain; no copyright is claimed in the original agency work)
Sources: NWS Beach Hazards Statement · NWS weekend rainfall outlook · Illinois Beach camping information · NWS flood safety guidance