'Most Significant Flooding' In 2 Years Drenches Chicago

CHICAGO — Residents across the city and the neighboring area are still drying out following Sunday's torrential rain and subsequent flooding. According to AccuWeather, the Lincoln Square neighborhood registered the most rain at 5.90 inches.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service told WMAQ-TV it marked the "most significant flooding" seen in Chicago in two years. The NWS had posted flash flood warnings for Chicago, Naperville, Cicero and most of Cook County through 12:30 p.m. Sunday. A flood watch remained in effect until 4 a.m. Monday, according to NWS.

Rain totals for other parts of Chicagoland for the 24-hour period of Sunday through Monday, according to Accuweather:

• Portage Park — 5.86 inches
• Albany Park — 5.63
• Naperville — 5.61
• Lisle — 5.56

Both O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport recorded about 1.4 inches of rain.

While hundreds of residents were dealing with flooded basements and motorists were waiting out the storm while pulled over on major highways and roads reports Accuweather, a drenched Solider Field played host to the Chicago Bears NFL season-opening game against the San Francisco 49ers. Excited Chicago players celebrated in the wet conditions after a 19-10 win over the visitors.

NWS Chicago said rainfall totals surpassed 3 inches for certain areas of northern Illinois, with the highest amounts along the Wisconsin state line, and from the southwest suburbs into the north side of Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said Sunday the Office of Emergency Management and Communications was monitoring the rainy weather, advised residents to avoid running dishwashers or washing machines during the storm in a Twitter thread. She asked residents to use caution and avoid driving through standing water on streets, viaducts and low-lying areas.

Kam Buckner, a Chicago mayoral candidate, questioned the city's preparedness for storms on Monday.

“Yesterday, neighborhoods throughout Chicago experienced severe flooding and property damage due to the City’s antiquated water infrastructure systems," Buckner said. "While we may not be able to control the weather, we can predict it, and we know that climate change means more severe weather, including more storms like Sunday's."