During the summer months, temperatures in Chicago typically range from the mid 70s to low 80s with high humidity levels. In the winter, temperatures can drop below freezing and stay there for weeks at a time. Heavy rains combined with typical daily water flow can overwhelm the system and can cause more flooding.Chicago, IL is generally considered to have a humid continental climate, which brings both cold winter temperatures and hot summer ones. The MWRD and OEMC advised residents to delay baths and showers, flush toilets less frequently and wait before running a dishwasher or washing machine to prevent overtaxing the sewer system. “Residents can call 3-1-1, visit or use the CHI311 app to report water in your basement, standing water in the street or viaduct flooding,” the agency said. “In the middle of it, my car kind of stalled out.”Ĭhicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications said he had “all available flood mitigation equipment on the streets and is prioritizing assistance to areas where motorists are stuck in flooded viaducts. “This is the most water I’ve ever seen here,” Ibarra, 23, said. He was on his way home to Little Village when he lost control of his vehicle. Rafael Ibarra’s car stalled from the high water levels. “We just took advantage of the weather conditions today,” Diaz, 24, said. They then made the split-second decision to buy an inflatable kayak and have a joyride. The pair were driving near Abe Lincoln Elementary School and noticed the streets were flooded. Manuel Diaz and Christian Reyes have been kayaking at a lake in Naperville for two years, but they decided to take to the flooded streets of Cicero for their latest adventure Sunday. The weather service listed nearly 20 reports of flash flooding throughout the Chicago area. Most of the complaints were from the West and Southwest sides of the city. More than 200 Chicago residents submitted complaints of water in their basement to 311 on Sunday, according to the city’s website. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago said it had begun reversing the river toward the lake about 4 p.m. Low-lying parts of the Riverwalk downtown were covered by water. “Persons along rivers and streams in the warned area should take immediate precautions to protect life and property,” it said. The weather service also cautioned that Chicago River levels were dangerously high. Monday, as standing water remained on roadways that will take time to recede. But the weather service issued a flood warning until 1 a.m. Sunday as the rains started to taper off. Video showed people being rescued from their cars at a viaduct at Cicero and Grand in the city.įlash flood warnings for Chicago, Oak Lawn and Cicero expired at 6:30 p.m. The weather service issued a warning for “significant, life-threatening flooding.” The worst occurred on the west and southwest sides of Chicago and in the near west and southwest suburbs, according to the National Weather Service. Garfield Park on the West Side of Chicago got 8.12 inches, Lincoln Park 7.89 inches, Evanston 7.09 inches, Oak Park 6.04 inches, Midway Airport 4.68 inches. It was the highest daily rainfall total to be observed at O’Hare since May 2020, when 3.53 inches of rain was recorded on May 14 and 3.11 inches on May 17.īut the record-breaking number wasn’t close to the downpour in west suburban Berwyn, which saw nearly 9 inches of rain, according to preliminary numbers released by the weather service.

Chicago area rainfall amounts