Heavy Sunday night downpours soaked the Chicago area, flooding low-lying streets and disrupting both rail and highway travel. On the North Side, commuters ran into delays after the CTA’s Red Line started skipping a key station while standing water pooled on nearby expressways.
CTA bypasses North/Clybourn; shuttle buses in place
In a customer alert, the CTA said, "Red Line trains are running, but not stopping at North/Clybourn due to flooding," according to the CTA. To fill the gap, shuttle buses were put in service between Fullerton and Clark/Division in both directions, and the agency advised riders to use nearby bus options, including the #8 Halsted and #72 North, to work around the affected stretch.
Flood advisory after heavy downpours
Local weather coverage reports that roughly 1 to 2 inches of rain fell across the city and some suburbs, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood advisory for parts of the region and warn that additional showers could add another half-inch to an inch of rain, as reported by NBC Chicago. The bursts of heavy rain left several intersections at least partially covered by water, and westbound Interstate 80 saw its two left lanes blocked by standing water near River Road, a traffic source noted in that coverage.
Part of a larger, volatile storm system
The surge of storms was tied to a broader weather system that triggered severe-weather alerts across the Midwest, Associated Press coverage reported. The National Weather Service’s spring flood outlook also cautions that even when seasonal river flood risk is near or below average, short and intense rounds of rain can overwhelm urban drainage and cause localized roadway and underpass flooding, according to the National Weather Service.
How riders and drivers should respond
Riders are encouraged to build in extra travel time and follow shuttle routing and bus alternatives listed by the CTA, according to CTA. Drivers are urged to stick to flood-safety basics, including never driving through flooded roadways and following the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" warning, as laid out in the National Weather Service's flood safety guidance at the National Weather Service.
Agencies are asking commuters to keep an eye on transit and weather alerts while crews work to clear waterlogged streets and restore normal service. Officials plan to post updates as conditions change, and travelers are advised to check CTA and National Weather Service feeds before heading out.
