Heavy overnight storms soaked wide stretches of northern Illinois on Saturday, turning streets and low-lying neighborhoods across Chicago-area suburbs into temporary waterways. In Lake County, crews headed out early to clear storm drains, block off problem spots, and respond to flooded roads as already high rivers pushed even higher. Residents from Gurnee down to Lincolnshire reported standing water and a small but disruptive wave of local closures.
Where flooding showed up
Lake County officials warned of flooding along both the Des Plaines River and the Fox River after some gauges picked up nearly two inches of rain in parts of the county. Flooding was reported along the Des Plaines River south of Townline Road and in the Gurnee area, according to CBS Chicago. The outlet noted that some North Branch Chicago River stretches and Lake Michigan-connected waterways had seen higher water levels earlier in the week but had already started to recede, and that levels on the Des Plaines were expected to crest sometime between Saturday and Sunday before gradually dropping.
Rivers and gauges to watch
The National Weather Service cautioned that many rivers across northern Illinois remained elevated and that any additional heavy rain could push crests higher, urging residents and local officials to keep an eye on updated forecasts and river products from forecasters in Chicago, according to the National Weather Service. For real-time river readings and local gauge forecasts, U.S. Geological Survey monitoring pages and forecast hydrographs are being used by local agencies to track rises and expected crests as conditions change, per the USGS.
Local response and closures
The Village of Lincolnshire said officials were closely watching the Des Plaines River and that Public Works crews had been out overnight to check facilities and critical infrastructure. Londonderry Lane was closed due to flooding, and crews also cleared a downed tree, according to CBS Chicago. Other Lake County municipalities reported putting up temporary barricades and rolling out targeted efforts to keep drivers away from known trouble spots while crews assess damage and water levels.
What residents should do
Officials stressed the usual flood safety basics: do not drive through standing water, move valuables and important documents out of basements if possible, and follow local advisories on sandbag distribution points and road closures. Lake County’s flood information page lays out steps residents should take before, during, and after flooding, including where to sign up for emergency alerts and how to get sandbags or clean-up guidance, according to Lake County.
