Residents of Illinois witnessed their rivers rise on Sunday, heightening concerns about potential flooding. Some communities are bracing for the situation to escalate to a major flood stage as early as Monday morning.
Despite the looming threat, Sunday evening brought a respite with dry but frigid weather, as Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories were issued throughout the Chicago area. In some regions, temperatures are expected to dip into the 20s overnight.
As the rivers approach their peak levels, residents remain on high alert after experiencing flooding for several days. This comes in the wake of Friday night’s storms, where the National Weather Service confirmed at least eight tornadoes touched down in northern Illinois.
Officials in Lake County have reported that water levels in both the Fox and Des Plaines rivers remain significantly elevated. However, the forecasted dry spell this week is anticipated to bring much-needed relief to those affected.
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Even on Sunday night, floodwaters continued to pose a threat, prompting homeowners to take measures to divert water away from their residences. The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has warned that the Des Plaines River may still rise before it finally crests.
Floodwaters still flowed Sunday night, with homeowners working to move it out and away from their homes The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission says the Des Plaines River could climb before it crests.
“We’ve watched it come up to the barricades here a couple of days ago, and then it went back and now it’s coming back again and they say it’s going to rise even more because of the rains up north, up in Wisconsin,” Lincolnshire resident Sandy Didewig said.
Didewig’s Lincolnshire home is feet away from rising flood waters.
Officials say the Des Plaines River could reach major flood status and is expected to peak Monday.
A roadway leading into River Shire Park has been closed to cars and pedestrians, for now, but neighbors found other ways to get around.
Water levels on Londonderry Lane reached as high as a foot and a half.
“The top of the fire hydrant over there was pretty much submerged all the way to the top of the fire hydrant. So I saw some carp swimming around,” Lincolnshire resident Chris Nielsen said.
In Antioch, flood waters created more dangerous conditions after firefighters were called out to rescue a couple trapped in their home Saturday.
And in Algonquin, where the Fox River is possibly days away from peaking, rising waters levels have creeped onto a homeowner’s yard, which was now surrounded by sandbags.
With the Fox River expected to reach historic flood levels, leaders in Nunda Township are looking for volunteers to help make sandbags. That will take place starting at 7 a.m. Monday at the Nunda Township Road District building.
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