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Swimmers warned to stay out of Lake Erie due to high risk of rip currents

Small Craft Advisory also issued

Kaylyn Hlavaty

Lake Erie at Edgewater State Park.

By: Camryn Justice

Posted at 10:37 AM, Jun 10, 2021

and last updated 2021-06-10 13:28:46-04

CLEVELAND — The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazard Statement and a Small Craft Advisory for this afternoon and evening.

The Beach Hazard Statement is in effect from 2 p.m. Thursday throughout the evening for multiple Northeast Ohio counties along Lake Erie, warning swimmers to remain out of the water due to the conditions. Counties included:

Erie
Lorain
Cuyahoga
Lake
Ashtabula

NWS issued the alert in response to a high risk of rip currents that are expected Thursday.

Wind and wave action are expected to cause currents on the lakeshore. Those currents can carry swimmers away from shore out into the lake.

Through the duration of the Beach Hazard Statement, swimmers in the aforementioned areas should avoid swimming in the lake and avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

The Small Craft Advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. until 11 p.m. this evening along the nearshore waters of Lake Erie.

Northeast winds of 15 to 20 knots and waves of 3 to 5 feet are expected from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. These conditions will be hazardous to small crafts. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.