More waves of torrential rain are expected to move across the Chicago area throughout the day Wednesday, after earlier storms poured several inches on northern Illinois, causing massive flooding.
A few storms with heavy rain and gusty winds will move from the west, according to local forecasts, dropping more rain on soaked areas already among the hardest hit. Another wave to the west of Chicago likely will hold together into the early afternoon with more scattered showers and storms.
Storms could continue all afternoon and evening in some areas with a severe threat for additional heavy rain.
That could cool down conditions initially thought capable of producing the hottest day so far this summer with highs in the 90s and heat index readings up to 105 degrees in far southern counties.
New temperature readings were dropped to the low to mid-80s and heat index values closer to 90 or lower.
Yet another round of potentially severe weather is likely Wednesday night with possible strong to severe storms and more heavy rain.
Those storms could produce large hail, damaging wind gusts and very heavy rainfall resulting in additional flash flooding.
It's unwelcomed news for numerous Chicago suburbs left under water after a powerful round of overnight storms that continued through the morning.
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency until 11 a.m. in Lake and northeastern McHenry counties, calling it "an extremely dangerous situation."
Local
The stormy weather downed trees and power lines as rising waters shut down roadways and left drivers stranded.
By 4 a.m., rainfall estimates totaled anywhere from three to 5 inches across the area.
In Lake Bluff, several drivers were forced to abandon their cars in standing water near Route 176 west of Route 43.
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The Kane County Sheriff's office said it was responding to numerous reports of abandoned vehicles in the north Starks area.
Metra said inbound and outbound trains on the Milwaukee District North Line were temporary halted from Fox Lake to Libertyville due to high water and delays were reported across multiple lines.
Amtrak suspended Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee just before 8 a.m. due to flooding. The agency said flooding led to a temporary track closure and no alternate transportation was available at the time.
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ComEd reported more than 20,000 people were without power in Lake, Kane, McHenry and Cook counties.
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