Wilmette Under a Flash Flood Warning

Written by Marcia Watts Sagendorph. 

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning today, June 26, at 5:26 a.m. for northern Cook, Dupage and Kane counties in northeast Illinois.

The warning is in effect until 11:30 a.m.

Slow moving thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall will move across the entire area. The NWS estimates three inches of rain or more has already fallen, and ongoing thunderstorms throughout the day will produce even more heavy rainfall.

Flash flooding is predicted in Glencoe  as well as Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Fox Lake, Gages Lake, Glenview, Grayslake, Gurnee, Harvard and Highland Park.

Evanston utilities director Dave Stoneback said tthe rain gauge in Wilmette recorded 1.87" of rain and the North Side District plant at Howard and McCormick had recorded 2.13" of rain, while Evanston had recorded 1.5" of rainfall as of 7:22 a.m. 

Driving may become difficult, as excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, highways, viaducts and underpasses.

The thunderstorms are expected to be severe. In addition to heavy rain and flash flooding, they may produce quarter-size hail, lighting and 60 miles per hour winds.

Stay tuned to Patch for updates.