Chicago weather update: Flood watch, airport ground stops, hazardous beach conditionsA flood watch remains in effect across most of the Chicago area Saturday, April 19, as waves of heavy showers and thunderstorms drench the region.
This prompts airport ground stops and dangerous beach conditions.
The watch applies to most of the Illinois counties as well as Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, and it will last up to 1 p.m. Most of the territory is covered by the watch from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., and there is an expectation of two to four inches of rain. There is also a Level 1 severe weather threat in the south suburbs and northwest Indiana; thunder and lightning are expected throughout the morning.
The forecast was predicting heavy rains with the intensity of one to two inches per hour, leading to flash flooding. In addition, the area is under a relatively rare Level 3 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall, which means that there is a high probability of floods in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
Southeast winds are generating waves off Illinois beaches, causing the issuance of a Beach Hazard statement for waves that can be three to six feet high, with some waves reaching up to seven feet in Lake County, Illinois. These conditions are expected to persist on Sunday as wind direction changes to northeast.
It will be unseasonably cool throughout the day, with high temperatures only reaching the low to mid-70s under cloudy skies. There will also be storms expected tonight through Sunday morning, with another flood watch possibly issued. The Chicago Bears will open their season against the Carolina Panthers at 12 p.m. tomorrow at Soldier Field.