An afternoon filled with showers and thunderstorms culminated in vital flooding Sunday night as rain overflowed the Chicago River and rendered some native roadways impassable.
Nearly 3 inches of rain had fallen through 11 p.m. Sunday, and even though the worst of the storms have handed, a flood caution stays in impact till 1 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service mentioned.
“The water is only going to continue to rise even after the rain stops because the ground is so heavily saturated — the water has nowhere to go,” climate provider meteorologist Matt Friedlein mentioned.
The Chicago River might be noticed spilling over its banks Sunday night, submerging the Riverwalk in some spots, and meteorologists be expecting the water ranges to proceed emerging.
The river used to be in a “rapid-rise state” Sunday night, in line with climate provider meteorologist Matt Friedlein.
This Flash Flood Warning is for MAJOR flash flooding surroundings in around the west/southwest Chicago suburbs. This flooding will lead to roads being closed this night. Do no longer trip this eve if you’ll; flooded roads change into particularly unhealthy. Turn round do not drown! #ILwx #INwx https://t.co/QNKmfmtE5W
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 17, 2020
In reaction to the flooding, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District introduced that they had reversed the glide of the river to Lake Michigan at each the Wilmette Pumping Station and Chicago River Controlling Works close to the lake.
The flooding additionally led to the CTA to droop Blue Line provider for roughly 4 hours between the Forest Park and Harlem stations at the Forest Park department, in line with the transit authority. The Red Line used to be suspended between the Garfield and 95th Street stations for almost part an hour because of “debris on the tracks.”
The latest spherical of showers and thunderstorms got here adopted an afternoon of record-setting rain main into the weekend.
Friedlein inspired citizens to stick house, pronouncing that flooded roads after darkish have been “a bad combination.”
Major flooding used to be reported on roadways around the Chicago space together with Lower Wacker Drive, the place the water had risen so prime that the Chicago Fire Department needed to ship in boats to take away homeless folks and motorists who have been trapped there. Six folks were rescued nowadays Sunday night.
Illinois State police mentioned Interstate 290 used to be close down at Des Plaines Avenue and Interstate 94 used to be closed at Pratt Avenue because of the deluge.
The Cook County Department of Transportation mentioned that six inches of water may motive a lack of regulate or stall many cars, whilst a foot of water might motive some cars to waft. Two ft of water will sweep away maximum cars, the Department of Transportation mentioned.
The rain is anticipated to proceed till Tuesday, with temperatures soaring within the 50s, the elements provider mentioned.