Hundreds of thousands of people in a major Midwestern city were urged to “take immediate precautions to protect life and property” on Friday as heavy rainfall ushered in flash floods.
Why it Matters
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for key parts of Chicago on Friday, urging approximately 600,000 residents to take immediate action to protect life and property.
Flash flooding can result in swift and dangerous conditions, causing hazards for motorists and residents, as well as threats to infrastructure in one of the largest cities in the United States. Such warnings are critical for public safety as they alert residents to imminent weather threats and guide appropriate response behaviors.
What To Know
At 11:43 a.m. Central Daylight Time, the NWS in Chicago issued a flash flood warning for east central Cook County and southeastern DuPage County, covering major portions of Chicago and several surrounding neighborhoods and suburban communities. The warning remains in effect until 2:45 p.m. CDT due to heavy thunderstorms producing significant rainfall in the area.
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According to radar and automated rain gauges, up to 2 inches of rain had already fallen at the time of the alert, with more heavy rain ongoing in the affected zone. Officials warned that flash flooding was either ongoing or expected to begin shortly and could impact creeks, streams, drainage ditches, streets, underpasses, and low-lying or poor-drainage areas.
“A Flash Flood Warning means rapid-onset flooding is imminent or may already be occurring,” NWS Chicago said in the alert. “Persons along creeks, drainage ditches, and other waterways should take immediate precautions to protect life and property.”
Locations under the warning include many of Chicago’s densely populated neighborhoods and significant infrastructure points such as Midway Airport. Specific neighborhoods and suburbs identified included Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Bridgeport, South Shore, Burbank, Brookfield, Hinsdale, La Grange, Justice, Summit, Burr Ridge, Ashburn, Brighton Park, New City, Auburn Gresham, and Hyde Park.
The bulletin emphasized that most flood deaths occur in vehicles and advised people to avoid driving through flooded roadways.
In addition to the flash flood warning, a flood watch and flood advisory also were in effect. Rain reports of around 2.77 inches were recorded at the Midway Airport.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Casey Sullivan told Newsweek: “As you get into July and August, the steering winds aloft, which is how fast the winds are moving aloft that carry various weather systems through the region, they tend to be lighter. Storms this time of year … can be slow-moving.”
A flood watch issued by NWS Chicago: “Slow moving showers and thunderstorms with torrential rainfall will produce locally very heavy rainfall today. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches or more will be possible on a localized basis. This will lead to instances of flash flooding into this afternoon.”
What Happens Next
The heavy rain that caused the floods has moved south and weakened, Sullivan said, but the flash flood warning will remain in effect until 2:45 p.m. Residents in the impacted areas are expected to remain vigilant, follow instructions from emergency officials, and monitor local news and weather advisories for updates. Flash flooding may cause infrastructure damage, disrupt transportation, and result in power outages.
