WATSEKA, Ill. – Drivers across parts of eastern Illinois and northwest Indiana could encounter flooded roads Wednesday evening as thunderstorms dump 1 to locally 3 inches of rain onto already saturated ground.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, a Flood Watch remains in effect for Livingston, Ford and Iroquois counties in Illinois until 1 a.m. CDT Thursday. Newton, Jasper and Benton counties in Indiana remain under the watch until 2 a.m. EDT. Flash flooding could develop quickly where the heaviest thunderstorms repeatedly cross the same areas.
Watseka, Pontiac, Dwight, Paxton, Gibson City, Gilman and Fairbury are among the Illinois communities covered. In Indiana, the watch includes Rensselaer, Kentland, Morocco, DeMotte, Roselawn, Oxford and Fowler.
Recent heavy rain has left soil moisture high, increasing the amount of runoff reaching streets, drainage areas, creeks and streams. Another quick 1 to 3 inches could push waterways out of their banks and leave low-lying roads underwater Wednesday evening.
Motorists should never drive onto a flooded roadway because water can conceal washed-out pavement or become deep enough to carry a vehicle away. Residents near creeks and other waterways should monitor water levels and be ready to move to higher ground if warnings are issued.
The Flood Watch continues through 1 a.m. CDT in Illinois and 2 a.m. EDT in Indiana. Additional flash flood warnings could follow where thunderstorms produce the highest rainfall totals.
