Chicago area gets brief chance to dry out after severe storms swept through the area again
The Chicago area has a brief chance to dry out Sunday, forecasters said, after enduring torrential downpours and what were likely tornadoes in the area — with hope for a coming respite from hazardous weather.
Mostly sunny conditions were forecast for the metropolitan area Sunday, though scattered showers occurred southeast of Interstate 57 in the afternoon.
The National Weather Service had inspectors out looking at damage in the area from Saturday’s storms that likely produced tornadoes, with unofficial reports near Crete, Chatsworth and Dyer, Indiana, and a possible waterspout over Lake Michigan, meteorologist Ricky Castro said.
Tornado sirens sounded Saturday in Chicago as an ominous, low-hanging wall of clouds moved across the city, with severe storms producing gusty winds and flooded roads in some areas. Two-day rain totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches across northern Illinois.
The atmosphere remained saturated with moisture, and thunderstorms remained likely for the area Monday and Tuesday, with showers the rest of the week. Storms may cause more localized flooding.
July may offer a reprieve from frequent severe weather, Castro said, since the majority of tornadoes in the region occur in April, May and June, with a typical drop-off after that.
“It would be nice to have a day not affected by weather,” Castro said. “We all need a break after this week.”
If the tornadoes are confirmed, it would be the first time since June 2015 when the area has seen tornadoes from two separate storm systems in the same week, he said. Last Sunday, at least two tornadoes struck the Chicago area — and a third hit Indiana — with the most violent damaging more than 200 homes in a corridor through Naperville and Woodridge, and Darien.
From 1950 through 2017, the most recent date tabulated by the weather service, there have been 615 tornadoes registering on the Enhanced Fujita scale in the Chicago area. Only 4% were EF-3 strength, as the Naperville-Woodridge-Darien event was, and only 2% were stronger.
The average size of those tornadoes was about 100 yards wide and 4 miles long. They killed 145 people and injured almost 2,700 more.
Residents may sign up for tornado warnings and alerts on phones or other devices. If you hear a tornado siren, authorities recommend immediately taking cover indoors, away from windows in a basement, hallway or closet.
The area along and southeast of Interstate 55 took the brunt of Saturday’s showers and thunderstorms. On the high end, some isolated areas received 2 to 3 inches of rain. Areas in Cook County saw closer to 1 to 2 inches of rain.
Flash flooding was reported on Lake Shore Drive, and the Eisenhower Expressway was closed in both directions because of standing water. Blue Line “L” service was temporarily suspended between UIC/Halsted and Forest Park because of water on the tracks.
The Chicago Fire Department warned drivers not to enter viaducts if water is high enough to touch your wheel rim, as the department had to make several rescues Saturday after cars stalled.
For more forecast information, visit the Tribune’s weather page.
