National Weather Service officials cautioned flash flooding is possible Wednesday as showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across the area with a couple rounds expected to release 1 to 2 inches of rain per hour.
A flash flood watch was called Wednesday for portions of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. In northeast Illinois several counties are included: central Cook, DuPage, eastern Will, southern Cook and southern Will counties. In northwest Indiana, Lake County was an area of concern, officials said.
Flight cancellations were rolling into O’Hare International Airport. By 9:30 a.m., 141 Wednesday flights had been cancelled at the airport, with the largest share made up by regional carrier SkyWest, which operates flights for major carriers including United, Delta and American airlines.
Two flights had been cancelled at Midway Airport as of Wednesday morning.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday for several Illinois counties, including Cook County, due to recent weather events. The proclamation allows local entities access to state resources and emergency personnel.
Due to the expected heavy rainfall, creeks and streams may rise out of their banks and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Also, underpasses may flood, officials said.
Most of the storms Wednesday were expected to move swiftly through the area, but a couple of the storms are expected to carry heavy rainfall, officials said. Central Cook County has the highest threat of flash flooding Wednesday if heavier storms occur, officials said.
A flood watch for flash flooding means rapid-onset flooding is possible but not certain and is based upon the latest forecast. People along rivers, creeks and waterways should monitor the latest forecast and be prepared to take action if flooding develops, officials said.
Weather officials also said there is a slight risk of thunderstorms with hail up to a quarter size and damaging wind up to 60 mph. A conditional threat for severe storms is a possibility Wednesday afternoon, with a low threat for tornadoes.
Morning conditions at Chicago’s airports are mostly cloudy at 64 degrees. A high in the mid 70s is expected. So far, showers and thunderstorms are a possible through Saturday.
