Strong winds whipped huge waves onto the Lakefront Trail along Lake Shore Drive, forcing a portion of the trail to close Friday.
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"I've never seen anything like it. I'm from Michigan, so I've seen big waves on that side. Nothing like this," said jogger Luke Smester.
Friday morning, some using the Lakefront Trail almost got caught by high water.
"I'm wearing some gear so I didn't get wet. I probably wouldn't do it again. I think I went through maybe six inches of water right when the wave crashed," said bike rider Angy Thilele.
Barricades were put up near Oak Street Beach to warn people about the danger. The Chicago Park District also blocked off portions of the path and restricted pedestrian access between Fullerton Avenue, North Avenue and Ohio Street after wind-driven high waves flooded a portion of the path.
Canadian tourist Francis Lefebver says Chicago's living up to its nickname.
"We heard it was the Windy City and I'm not going to argue," said Chicago visitor Francic Lefebver.
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Megan Amandio and her college friend from Arizona, Amy Miller, were among the curious who stopped by the lakefront to take pictures of the waves -- and then wished they hadn't.
"I've never been to Chicago before and now I know why," said Arizona resident Amy Miller.
"If it wasn't windy it wouldn't be nearly as bad, but it's freezing," said Megan Amandio.
The National Weather Service issued a Lakeshore Flood Advisory around midday Friday. It will remain in effect until 4 a.m. Saturday.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, temperatures in the Chicago area were more than 30 degrees cooler than they were at the same time Thursday. The wind also played a role in how cold it felt. ABC7 Meteorologist Phil Schwarz said it will be cold in the Chicago area all weekend.
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Dangerous winds on slippery roads in northwest Indiana
Dangerous wind on NW Indiana roads
In northwest Indiana, the wind also created dangerous driving conditions after lake-effect snow made roads slick. Motorists should keep a safe distance from the car in front of them and reduce their speed to prevent a crash.
Snow is expected to fall Friday afternoon to the Illinois side of Lake Michigan, before shifting into Indiana Friday evening. Schwarz said 1-3 inches of snow accumulation are possible in Lake and Porter counties, with heavier amounts in isolated areas. The snow is expected to shift further east on Saturday.
The Chicago area's next chance for snow will be Sunday night into Monday morning, with 1-3 inches of accumulation likely, Schwarz said.