The Chicago-area is enjoying a brief respite from the near-constant rain it received over the last two days, but more wet weather is in the forecast, causing deluged communities to prepare for more flooding.
A Flash Flood Watch will go into effect for every county in northeastern Illinois on Thursday morning as more rain enters the area. McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Grundy, Will, and Kankakee counties are all impacted by the watch, which will last through Thursday afternoon.
Lake County in Northwest Indiana is also impacted by the watch.
According to forecasts, another round of moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to begin in the overnight hours and will continue through most of the day Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, and could bring an additional inch to 1.5 inches of rain to the area before all is said and done.
Localized flash flooding is possible because of the storms, and residents are encouraged to keep an eye on streams, creeks, and rivers near their homes.
Travellers could also face challenges, as already saturated ground will likely cause rain to run onto roadways, causing localized street flooding. Overwhelmed drainage systems may not be able to handle the excess rain, causing more road closures in impacted areas.
Local
Road closures have already been reported in several suburban communities, including Naperville, Plainfield, and Orland Park, and more are expected as the rain resumes overnight.
To make matters worse, more flooding is expected along numerous area waterways. The Kankakee River is expected to rise above flood stage in several areas, with moderate flooding forecast along the river in Wilmington. The water is expected to rise more than four feet above flood stage, putting some structures at risk in Wilmington and Kankakee.
Other area rivers, including the DuPage, Little Calumet, and Des Plaines rivers, are all expected to rise above flood stage in the coming days.
For a full list of Flood Warnings, residents can visit the NBC 5 weather alerts page.
