High winds produced dangerous, 10- to 16-foot waves along the lakefront path, knocking down morning bikers and runners on Friday.
Police closed off the path from North Fullerton Avenue, but some runners and bikers didn't heed the warnings. NBCChicago helicopter footage showed several people taking spills into the waves, though no injuries were reported.
By 9 a.m., police were standing at the path to reroute bikers and runners. The path will remain closed until further notice, they said. The waves aren't expected to recede until the afternoon, said meteorologist Andy Avalos.
Overnight, 30 to 35 mph winds with gusts of up to 50 mph hit parts of the area, knocking out power to about 27,000 ComEd customers. The strong winds also were blamed for a building collapse in Little Village and a fire in Glenview, among other local damage.
Gusty wind continued Friday even after an advisory expired at 5 a.m. for the metro area. Spotty early morning showers will push east into northwest Indiana, potentially causing flooding, as clouds slowly break in Chicago for partial sunshine.
Unseasonably cool temps are expected Friday afternoon, along with gusts between 20 and 25 mph. Highs of upper 50s and low 60s continue throughout the weekend.
