Chicago-Area Storms Cause Damage, Add to Flooding Concerns

A round of severe weather moved through the Chicago area Friday night, compounding concerns in parts of northern Illinois already battling major flooding.

Thunderstorms rolled through several counties overnight, bringing torrential rains, strong winds and even hail to suburbs like Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village. [[435902593, C]]

Nearly 200 flights were canceled at O’Hare Airport Friday night, while around 30,000 customers lost electricity during the storms, according to ComEd.

Storm damage hit numerous areas, knocking down trees and power lines in areas including Elgin, Itasca and more, while warehouses in both Streamwood and Elk Grove Village saw their roofs torn off in the wind.

As the communities impacted grapple with cleanup, concerns grew in towns already combating major flooding from storms that began 11 days prior. [[434281383, C]]

The Des Plaines River was at 18.26 feet near Des Plaines Saturday morning, six days after cresting at about 19.83 feet – nearly five feet about the 15 foot flood stage.

In Kane and McHenry counties, the Fox River (with a flood stage of 9.5 feet) was at 13 feet Saturday morning after cresting Thursday at around 12.82 feet, according to the village of Algonquin.

Officials closed several parks and streets near the river, asking residents to steer clear as emergency workers sandbagged the area. The community's annual Algonquin Founders' Days Festival, scheduled for next weekend, was also canceled Saturday. [[434038743, C]]

Major efforts to control flooding in Lake County continued as well following Friday’s storms, as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, county officials and more than 20 community partners opened a Multi Agency Resource Center to assist impact residents.

Another Red Cross shelter was available at Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan as well, though the shelter is likely to close soon as population has dwindled, the organization said. [[434290393, C]]

A state disaster proclamation was declared for Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties last week, while the entire Chicago area remains under a Flood Warning through at least the end of the weekend.

While the threat for severe weather had largely passed Saturday, scattered storms are possible throughout the weekend, which looks to be cloudy and humid with temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

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