Heavy Rain Leads to Local Flooding

A band of storms sweeping through the Chicago area Tuesday evening has prompted a flash flood warning. 

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for portions of Lake, Will, Kankakee and Cook counties until 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A flood advisory is also in effect for portions of southern Cook, southern DuPage, northern Kankakee, and Will counties, as well as several portions of Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, the weather service said. The advisory is in effect until 11:45 p.m.

All across the area, communities are dealing with areas of high water and backyards that have turned into ponds. 

Two men in an SUV got caught in flood waters at the viaduct at E. 79th Street and S. Woodlawn Ave.

Sang Nguyen and his passenger were on their way to pick up Nguyen's wife when the car stalled.  They said the water got all the way up to the dashboard before they were able to get out.  The fire department used a ladder, positioned horizontally, to rescue them.

On the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 84th Street, traffic was backed up as rising waters apparently moved rocks and other debris onto the roadway.

There are no reports of any major power outages.

The majority of scattered showers are expected before 1 a.m. Wednesday, with the rest of Wednesday expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 80 degrees.

A flash flood warning means that flooding is imminent or happening. A flash flood advisory means that water levels will be elevated in creeks, small streams and drainage areas.

NBCChicago.com/Weather