Storms with lightning, heavy rain pound Chicago area through evening
CHICAGO (CBS) — Showers and thunderstorms rolled into the area late Tuesday afternoon, and persisted through the evening commute.
Though no severe weather was seen, heavy downpours soaked the area—and cloud-to-ground lightning was a concern.
At 7:30 p.m., it was pouring rain in sheets under dark skies in downtown Chicago with flashes of lightning and loud thunder.
First Alert Radar showed a cloud-to-ground lightning strike near Racine Avenue just south of Addison Street—only about a block and a half from Wrigley Field—at 7:23 p.m.
Numerous cloud-to-surface lightning strikes were also seen over the lake.
The Cubs were about to take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field as the storm hit Tuesday evening. The game was delayed and some seats were evacuated, according to social media reports.
Witnesses reported the storm took down multiple trees and power lines in north suburban Morton Grove and Skokie, among other areas in both the suburbs and city.
Storms earlier pounded McHenry County, prompting a flash flood warning has been issued for the west central part of the county, and for the east central portion of neighboring Boone County.
Between 2 and 3 inches had fallen in McHenry County as of 5:38 p.m., and 1 to 2 inches more were expected.
A special marine warning was also issued for Lake Michigan around the Chicago area as the thunderstorm passed over the lake. Boaters were advised to seek safe harbor immediately.
No watches or warnings were otherwise issued.
By 10 p.m., the storms were dissipating as they moved east—other than a spot shower in the northern sections of Jasper County.
Rainfall totaled more than an inch in some areas—with 1.1 inch of rainfall at Midway International Airport and 1.3 inches in Auburn Gresham. In McHenry County near Marengo, rainfall totaled 4.4 inches, while at one spot in Boone County to the west, rainfall totaled 5.6 inches.
While the storms Tuesday night were minor in comparison, they came barely a week after two consecutive nights of tornadoes touching down in Chicago and the surrounding area—with six on Sunday, July 14, and a record-setting 27 in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana on Monday, July 15.
Additional scattered rain is forecast for early Wednesday, and cooler, less humid sunshine will blow back into the picture late this week.
Temperatures rebound quickly this weekend, and summer heat is forecast from Sunday into much of next week. Dry weather is expected Thursday through Saturday, and scattered late-day thunderstorms will return.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with isolated rain. Low: 67
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with scattered storms, mainly early. High: 76
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 79, cooler lakeside