Chicago, Illinois – Torrential rainfall late Monday into early Tuesday left several northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana communities under water, with flash flooding closing roads and swamping neighborhoods.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the heaviest rain fell between the I-80 and I-88 corridors, where some towns picked up 4 to locally 8 inches. Significant flash flooding was reported in Paw Paw, Mokena, and Whiting, Indiana. Pockets of wind damage also accompanied the storms.
Emergency crews responded to flooded intersections across Will, DuPage, and Cook counties, where standing water made some roads impassable during the morning commute. Drivers were urged to avoid low-lying underpasses and to never attempt to cross water-covered pavement.
In LaSalle County, streams quickly overflowed banks, pushing water into fields and side streets. Further east, Whiting saw localized flooding that forced temporary street closures near Lake Michigan. Utility crews also worked overnight to restore scattered power outages tied to strong winds.
While the heaviest rain has ended, officials warned additional storms remain possible through Tuesday night, which could worsen flooding in saturated areas. Residents are urged to monitor alerts and prepare for potential road closures.
