Chicago, Illinois – Flooded roads and high water problems developed across parts of the Chicago metro area and northwest Indiana after a slow-moving band of heavy rain delivered up to 3 inches of rainfall between Saturday and Monday, with some of the highest totals concentrated along the Interstate 80 corridor.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, a swath of approximately 1 to 3 inches of rain fell from the Illinois River Valley eastward through the Kankakee River Valley and into northwest Indiana. The heaviest rainfall focused near Interstate 80, where localized flooding was reported, particularly across Chicago’s southern suburbs and nearby Indiana communities.
The highest rainfall total reported was 3.24 inches in Porter County, Indiana. Other notable totals included 3.15 inches in Gary, 3.05 inches in New Lenox, 2.99 inches near Plainfield and 2.78 inches in Minooka. Additional reports from Frankfort, Oak Forest, Joliet, Mokena and Lansing ranged from roughly 2.4 to 2.7 inches.
Areas along and south of Interstate 80 experienced the most significant impacts as repeated rounds of rain tracked across the same locations. Urban drainage systems, low-lying roadways and poor-drainage areas were especially vulnerable to temporary flooding during the heaviest downpours.
While the rain has ended, the event serves as a reminder that localized flooding can develop quickly when multiple rounds of storms target the same corridor. Residents should continue monitoring local forecasts as additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms remain possible across the Midwest later this week.
