Chicago Weather: Line of strong thunderstorms cause flooding, some damage across area
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A line of strong storms caused a resurgence of flooding and some damage across the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon and evening.
A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for Cook County until 10 p.m.
The risk of flash flooding for Chicago and Cook County was higher because the ground is still saturated from the heavy rainfall Sunday.
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The city was once again hit with a deluge of rain on already-soaked ground. On the West Side, parking lots turned into ponds.
"I'm actually scared, to be honest, because this is not normal for real, and when I was just in the rain, ooh, I was scared," said Austin resident Tyrone Washington.
Washington is concerned about where the storm waters will go and for his neighborhood, which is still drying out from Sunday.
"All around the neighborhood have been floods in basements so hopefully everybody will just stay in their house and chill," he said.
The Polk Street viaduct in North Lawndale flooded again, and in West Town and on the South Side there trees fell on homes, cars, and in roadways. Multiple lightning strikes were also seen.
Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the public to avoid any activities like doing laundry and dishes, anything that could add more water to the city's sewer system, to avoid possible water backup from the latest round of rain.
In southern Cook County and into Will County, weather radar indicated wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Some storm damage has already been reported like downed tree branches in Orland Park and downed power lines in Matteson.
In Oak Park, the evening deluge sent people scrambling in Oak Park.
"It's coming down pretty hard. Anybody out here will get drenched if they were out there walking," said Joseph Battan.
Streets flooded in south suburban Dolton, and even expressways were impacted with several on and off ramps on the Eisenhower under water.
In Cicero, one of the areas hardest hit by flash flooding Sunday, residents watched the sheets of rain with dread.
"We were going to the store, and we just came back because we see the rain start, and I say let's go back home because, you know, maybe we have flood again," said Marta Roman, whose basement flooded Sunday.
Pop up showers and thunderstorms began appearing from the western suburbs to the city of Chicago at around 3 p.m. While storms were out of the area by 9 p.m., many were left to deal with another round of flash floods and flooding damage, even as waters receded.
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There should be a break from the heat and humidity Thursday.
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