The search continues for a 26-year-old Chicago man who went missing in Lake Michigan's choppy waters Friday in southwestern Michigan.

But search efforts off the coast of a town in Berrien County, Mich., have turned to recovering the body of Timothy Horvath, who is presumed drowned.

Horvath and brothers Sean and Robert Finnerman, of Lincolnwood, Ill., went for a swim early Friday evening off a private beach in the 7200 block of Waverland Path in Stevensville, Mich., Daniel Sullivan, Lincoln Charter Township police chief, said in a statement.

The men, who were staying at a nearby seasonal residence, had taken out a small rubber raft several yards off the shore.

"At one point, the swimmers became separated from their raft, and the two brothers managed to follow it back to shore, however, the third man was seemingly caught in the current and was observed moving out into the lake," police said.

A witness called the Lincoln Charter Township Police Department at about 6 p.m. local time, according to reports. Local fire department units, Berrien County water rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard station looked for the missing man until 9:30 p.m., but police said the weather made search efforts challenging.

"Due to very high winds and strong rip currents, rescue efforts were limited because of the dangerous conditions," according to a police statement.

At one point, rescuers attempting to enter the lake on a watercraft had to call an ambulance, police said. The extent of injuries suffered with that incident is unknown at this time.

"A helicopter was out at first light," said Adam Saltzman, of the U.S. Coast Guard station in St. Joseph, Mich.

Saltzman said members of air and water search teams resumed work early Saturday morning with local fire and police personnel.

The Coast Guard called off its search about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, said 2nd Class Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen.

As of 3:30 p.m., patrols were continuing near where Horvath was last seen along the Lake Michigan shoreline, according to a police statement. Search efforts are expected to continue today and will be re-evaluated this morning.

A warning by the National Weather Service told people to stay out of the lake Friday because of a high risk of rip currents that could trap swimmers.

For today, the National Weather Service has issued warnings that there is a moderate risk of dangerous water conditions for Cook, Lake and Porter counties. According to the agency, only experienced swimmers should enter Lake Michigan because of high waves and the risk of rip currents.

The agency also issued a statement that the waters off of LaPorte and Berrien counties' shores pose a high risk to swimmers. The forecast calls for "dangerous, pounding" waves and rip currents, and recommends people stay out of the high surf.

Times Staff Writer Bowdeya Tweh contributed to this report.