ROCKFORD, Ill. – Northwestern Illinois could be in for a dangerous weekend as slow-moving thunderstorms threaten to drop up to 8 inches of rain from Saturday into Sunday. The National Weather Service says the heaviest downpours will target counties along the Mississippi River, with a heightened flash flood risk for both rural and urban areas.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, storms will fire up Saturday afternoon and continue in waves through Sunday morning. Rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are likely, with totals of 4 to 6 inches common and some spots—particularly near Galena, Savanna, and Sterling—pushing toward 8 inches before the system moves east.
With the ground already saturated from recent rain, the threat of flash flooding will rise quickly. Smaller rivers such as the Apple, Pecatonica, and Rock could see rapid increases, while low-lying farm fields and rural roads may become impassable. Flooding along U.S. Route 20 and Illinois Route 84 is also possible if storms repeatedly track over the same areas.
Residents are urged to monitor local alerts, avoid driving across flooded roads, and prepare for potential evacuations in flood-prone neighborhoods. Officials recommend charging devices and keeping emergency kits ready in case storms knock out power.
The heaviest rainfall is expected from Saturday night into Sunday morning, with gradual improvement by late Sunday. Still, forecasters warn that high water on rivers could persist into early next week, especially if additional rain develops over the region.
