Just days after heavy rains caused significant flooding issues across Chicago and surrounding suburbs, another round of storms could bring similar challenges Wednesday afternoon.
As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for DuPage and Cook counties beginning at 2 p.m. That warning will remain in effect until 9 p.m.
Officials warned that creeks and streams may rise above their banks, underpasses may flood, and roads and streets may also experience water accumulation.
Basement flooding can also be a concern, according to officials.
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, showers and thunderstorms may begin to blow around 3 p.m., and will likely remain a threat until sunset tonight.
A “slight” risk of severe weather exists for much of the Chicago area, according to the Storm Prediction Center, with the main threats being lightning, hail and, most importantly, heavy rain.
It was a Sunday to remember in the Chicago area, with torrential rain flooding basements and snarling traffic all over the place. Telemundo Chicago’s Jorge DeSantiago has the latest details.
While the movement of the storms is expected to be strong enough to reduce the duration of the heaviest rain, rainfall rates of 1-to-2 inches per hour are still possible due to high levels of atmospheric moisture.
Reservoirs are still mostly full from Sunday’s deluge, which dropped up to nine inches of rain in some parts of Chicago. More than 2,000 basement flooding complaints were received in Chicago after Sunday’s storms, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office.
Officials also had to reverse the flow of the Chicago River into Lake Michigan to help ease flooding concerns in the northern suburbs and downtown, but water levels have returned to normal this time.
The rain also caused the closure of several expressways due to flooding issues, with the lower reaches of Eisenhower and Kennedy particularly vulnerable to ponding.
Be sure to stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team, and use caution when traveling in areas where flooding is possible.
