Storm dumps seven inches of rain on Chicago area, triggering floods and travel chaos

Torrential rainfall hit parts of Chicago on Tuesday night, leading to significant flash flooding that paralyzed traffic in the city’s West Side. Streets turned into rivers, and several underpasses became impassable as vehicles stalled in waist-deep water.

According to ABC7 Chicago, parts of downtown and the West Side saw over five inches of rain within two-and-a-half hours. Many drivers reported being caught off-guard by the heavy rainfall, resulting in disrupted traffic and some vehicles stuck in unsafely deep water.

WGN reported that a Flash Flood Warning was issued, impacting both drivers and residents. The water receded by early Wednesday morning, but it left in its wake damaged cars and flooded roadways.

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As highlighted by WGN News, several neighborhoods on the West Side faced rising waters threatening homes. Many social media posts captured the severity, with water levels perilously close to residential areas.

While there were no confirmed reports of injuries, the Illinois Department of Transportation postponed the Kennedy Expressway project stage change due to these weather conditions, resetting it from Tuesday to Wednesday. A Teddy Swims concert at Huntington Bank Pavilion also evacuated concert-goers as a precaution, reported by FOX 32.

Though sunny skies returned on Wednesday, providing a reprieve, forecasters like Mike Caplan from FOX 32 warned of possible storms later in the week. Residents are advised to stay alert as more adverse weather could be on the way, demonstrating the importance of heeding weather alerts for safety.