Chicagoans take large waves from Sandy in stride

The city warned people to stay away from Lake Michigan.

But some couldn’t resist the tempation of watching powerful waves fueled by sharp, angry winds slam into the lakefront

Runners, bikers, photographers and dog walkers with nervous pets all roamed North Avenue Beach Tuesday under a gray sky, gazing at what some said were among the largest waves they’ve seen there.

After Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast, the severe weather reached Chicago’s shores in the form of the strong winds and pummeling waves.

“It’s beautiful,” Werner Ott said. “It’s scary and beautiful at the same time.”

Most people on the lakefront Tuesday said they hadn’t heard the warnings to steer clear of the shore. Chicago Police patrolled the beach in squad cars, and officials did their best to keep runners and bikers from zipping past them onto the part of the lakefront trail they was closed. Security at the entrance to the trail bulked up later as wind gusts seemed to blow even harder.