Storm brings reports of two brief tornado touchdowns, widespread flooding in Chicago and suburbs

CHICAGO - A seemingly endless storm led to flooding, closed roads and reports of at least two brief tornado touchdowns in the Chicago area on Sunday. A flash flood warning was in effect Sunday night.

Late Sunday evening, Illinois State Police said that I-290 eastbound at Des Plaines Avenue was closed. The westbound lanes were also flooded but traffic was getting by on the shoulder. The Edens was also closed Sunday night north and southbound at Pratt due to flooding.

The two tornado touchdowns were reported at 3:10 p.m. in Millington, LaSalle County, and at 5:26 p.m.  west of I-55, in Coal City, Will County. No damage or injuries were reported.

As of late Sunday afternoon, there was 7.69” rain at O’Hare Airport reported this month, making this Chicago's third wettest May on record.

On Sunday, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District reversed the flow of the Chicago Area Waterway system to Lake Michigan at the Wilmette Pumping Station and at the Chicago River Controlling Works downtown to prevent overbank flooding. In other words, they reversed the flow of the Chicago River to send it into Lake Michigan. The River was overflowing the River Walk in the Loop.

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Flooding was reported in Chicago and the suburbs at the following locations on Sunday:

• I-80 near Ridge Road, Minooka
• I-290 eastbound at Des Plaines Avenue closed; westbound lanes were also flooded but traffic was getting by on the shoulder
• CTA Blue Line service temporarily suspended between Harlem (FP) and Forest Park Terminal due to flooding
• Chicago River Walk in the Loop
• Edens closed Sunday night north and southbound at Pratt
• 159th St (US-6) RR underpass at Cicero Ave (IL-50) closed due to flooding, Oak Forest
• Naper Boulevard near Bailey Road, Naperville
• Multiple reports of street flooding in Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago
• Flooded roads near 127th street and Collins Road, Plainfield
• 12-18 inches of water on Caton Farm Road and Ridge Road, west of Joliet
• At least one foot of water flooding Smith Rd at Foxford Drive, Smith Road near McCormick Way and Schoolhouse Road near Smith Road, Manhattan

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In Naperville, a driver got stuck near 87th Street and Modaff Road tonight. Fire crews had to make the rescue. And Naperville's River Walk spilled over.

“I mean I’m worried about the support system, like in the bridges and then also the streets that cross it,” said David Chocola.

“Well it’s pretty amazing, all this water moving through like this, just a massive amount of water,” said Jane Dobes.

Along the DuPage River Trail, joggers found the water too deep for gymshoes.

“No we didn’t walk through it. I thought it might be a good idea, but I don’t have any rain boots so I’m kind of out of luck,” said Matt Burghgraef.

Police reminded the public that trying to drive through any flooded area is a dangerous proposition, since you cannot tell how deep the water is, and how strong the current might be, until it is too late.