By Paul Dailey
As has been reported, northern Illinois has been the recipient of heavy rainfall, mainly north of Interstate Highway 80. Twenty-four hour rainfall totals over this hardest-hit area range from 3 to well over 7 inches of rain at reporting observation stations, with 8-inch-plus totals not out of the question.
Flooding of roads, underpasses, and small streams has been commonplace.
At 9 a.m. CDT, the cold front triggering these thunderstorm downpours was oriented northeast-southwest from near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., through central Wisconsin to Des Moines, Iowa, into central Kansas.
The front is expected to continue to move east and south, into northwest Illinois midday and through the Chicago area later this afternoon.
Thunderstorms were on the decline by mid-morning, but as the day heats up and the front pushes into the state, thunderstorms should develop again by early afternoon. The National Storm Prediction Center has northeast and central Illinois and much of Indiana in the outlook area for potential severe storms.
With the front approaching from the west mid-afternoon, from that point on, it appears the biggest threat of severe storms in the Chicago area is south, then northwest Indiana late afternoon and evening.
More rain and especially strong winds could occur with these storms, so stay up-to-date for the latest advisories/warnings on these evovling weather conditions.
If you have photos of the flooding in your area, send them here.
