Chicago Weather: Rounds Of Storms Blow Through Chicago Area, Leaving Roads And Gas Stations Flooded, Boats Capsized
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Rounds of storms brought heavy rain to the city and nearby suburbs early Tuesday evening - leaving roads flooded, turning gas stations into ponds, taking down trees, and tipping boats.
Storms first swept into the city of Chicago at 5:45 p.m., and the North Shore suburbs also saw incredible downpours. That went on for over an hour.
As if that weren't enough, another squall line later swept into the city from the west, bringing more heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.
The storms were blamed for some damage and dangerous situations in the area.
The Evanston Fire Department reported it responded to multiple overturned sailboats with swimmers struggling in the water amid the storms. A total of eight boats were overturned along the Evanston beachfronts, and two swimmers were found without life vests – clinging to their capsized boats.
They were taken to Wilmette Harbor for evaluation.
There were also reports of downed trees, sinkholes, and a flooded underpass at Ashland Avenue and Kinzie Street that left a car stuck in the water.
Twitter user Adam Eathington took video showing cars and trucks going through floodwaters at Irving Park Road and Ravenswood Avenue.
In Lincolnwood, water gushed out of the gutter at a BP gas station, creating swirling puddles.
Uptown and Edgewater also reported flooding.
Wind damage was also reported at the Rockford Airport and other areas north and west of Chicago.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cook, DuPage, Lake, and eastern Kane and McHenry counties for much of the evening. A flash flood warning was also issued for northern Cook, northeastern DuPage, and southern Lake counties.
A flood advisory remained in effect near the Wisconsin state line until 10:30 p.m., and also for the rim of Lake Michigan until 12:45 a.m. for the rim of Lake Michigan.
Among the spots with the highest rainfall totals was northern McHenry County with 4.2 inches; Valparaiso, Indiana with 3.2 inches. The north lakefront saw 2 inches.
Impressive winds were also documented, with gusts of 62 mph in DeKalb, 58 mph in Woodstock. Inch-sized hail was also reported in Elk Grove Village.
The squall line crossed the Mississippi River late Tuesday afternoon and came into Chicago at 55 mph. It was not completely gone by the 10 p.m. hour, with rain still falling in some areas, and thunder and lightning also seen over western Kankakee County in Illinois and Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana.