Flash flooding leaves drivers stranded in south suburbs; thousands without power
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Strong storms created dangerous conditions in the south suburbs overnight, causing flooding and leaving drivers stranded.
There is a Flood Warning for Cook, Will, and Lake (Ind.) counties until noon Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
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This storm also knocked out power for tens of thousands across the area. As of 4:51 a.m., 58,452 customers were without power, ComEd said.
In Dolton, the basements of some homes were possibly flooded. And in Harvey, several motorists had to be rescued after their cars got stuck in high standing water.
"When I say the water is deep, the water is pretty much up to my knees. My car got stuck where this car is now, so I had to hop out. Called the ambulance. The ambulance said, 'Stay on top of the car.' So, I sat on top of the car for like 30 minutes to 40," driver Renee said.
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"I was driving through the rain, it was crazy. Crazy weather out here tonight. It was downpouring," said driver Carlos Nunez. "I really didn't see, but I drove into an area that was flooded and my car got, my engine had turned off on its own, and I got stuck in the middle of the floods, and I had to push it back out."
"A lot of drivers are experiencing issues with vehicles being stranded on the viaduct. Right now, the fire department and other departments are working hard to get everything taken care of," said Harvey Deputy Fire Chief Henry Boyd. "Most of the persons that are stranded are being towed out at this time. So, we're just keeping our eyes open, being vigilant and take care of the people who need it."
This comes after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake as a storm moved through on Friday. Seven people were rescued, and three children died, the Walworth County Sheriff's Office said.
The rain may have stopped for now, but several streets and viaducts are still flooded or have high standing water, so be careful.
More storm chances
ABC7 AccuWeather Meteorologist Jaisol Martinez said a cluster of storms hit LaSalle County on Saturday morning, and another cluster developed in northwest Illinois.
If the northwest Illinois storms hold together, they could hit some of the Chicago area's western counties around 8-9 a.m.
More rain is expected in the area between 11 a.m. and noon, Martinez said.
Martinez said flooding is a concern and damaging wind is possible along and south of I-80 on Saturday. Timing and location of storms is difficult to pinpoint, but the main window for rain appears to be between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Isolated storms could linger into the evening hours.
Sunday will not feel as muggy, and there will be a few showers as highs reach into the low 80s.
