July 9, 2025: Localized Flash Flood Event in Chicago

Event Summary Graphic

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Radar loop between 8 PM and 11 PM CDT 7/8/2025 showing nearly stationary thunderstorms.

Overview
Flooding, Rainfall, and Storm Reports
Additional Info

Overview

Page last updated: 11 AM CDT 7/9/2025

During the evening of July 8, a stationary thunderstorm produced a localized area of extremely heavy rain across parts of west-central Chicago.

A personal weather station just west of the United Center, very near the core of the heaviest rainfall, recorded 5.45" of rain from this event, most of which (5.12") fell in a 90 minute period between 9 and 10:30 PM.

This amount of rain in such a short period of time resulted in numerous flooded viaducts, some water rescues, and flooded basements.

This thunderstorm developed on a weak outflow boundary which was produced by earlier storms across central Illinois.

Flooding, Rainfall, and Storm Reports


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Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Chicago IL
104 AM CDT Wed Jul 9 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0245 PM     Rain             1 SW Braidwood          41.26N 88.22W
07/08/2025  M1.28 Inch       Will               IL   Public

            Private weather station KILBRAID10 reported
            1.28 inches storm total, with 1.04 inches
            occurring in 15 minutes.

0349 PM     Rain             1 SSE New Lenox         41.50N 87.96W
07/08/2025  M1.79 Inch       Will               IL   Public

            Private weather station KILNEWLE103 reported
            1.79 inches of rainfall in 45 minutes. 1.47
            inches occurred in 30 minutes and 1.12 in 15
            minutes.

0353 PM     Flood            2 SW Orland Park        41.60N 87.88W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Public

            Report of several inches of standing water
            on roadway near 159th Street and 108th
            Avenue near Orland Park.

0354 PM     Rain             2 WSW New Lenox         41.50N 88.00W
07/08/2025  M2.02 Inch       Will               IL   Public

            Private weather station KILNEWLE69 reported
            2.02 inches of rainfall in less than one
            hour. 1.61 inches were recorded in just 30
            minutes.

0423 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3.0 SW Midway Airport   41.74N 87.78W
07/08/2025  M45 MPH          Cook               IL   CO-OP Observer



0424 PM     Rain             Homer Glen              41.60N 87.94W
07/08/2025  M1.14 Inch       Will               IL   Public

            Private weather station KILHOMER11 reported
            1.14 inches of rainfall in approximately 30
            minutes.

0429 PM     Rain             1 NNW New Lenox         41.52N 87.97W
07/08/2025  M1.93 Inch       Will               IL   Public

            Private weather station KILNEWLE67 reported
            1.93 inches of rain in 90 minutes. Most
            rainfall occurred in approximately 45
            minutes.

0509 PM     Rain             1 ENE Griffith          41.54N 87.40W
07/08/2025  M0.89 Inch       Lake               IN   Public

            Private weather station KINGARY30 reported
            0.81 inches of rainfall in 15 minutes. 0.89
            inches storm total since 4 PM.

0940 PM     Flood            Cicero                  41.85N 87.75W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Trained Spotter

            Report of a few inches of standing water on
            sidewalks and roads in Cicero.

1015 PM     Flash Flood      2 E North Lawndale - Ch 41.86N 87.69W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Corrects previous flash flood report from 2
            E North Lawndale - Chicago. Report of water
            rescue taking place at intersection of
            Western Ave and Ogden.

1015 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE North Lawndale -  41.87N 87.69W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Report of a railroad viaduct flooded.

1020 PM     Flash Flood      2 WNW Chicago Loop      41.89N 87.67W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Report of water rescue ongoing at Kinzie and
            Ashland.

1030 PM     Flash Flood      1 NW Douglas - Chicago  41.84N 87.63W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Public

            Corrects previous flood report from 1 NW
            Douglas - Chicago. Corrects previous flood
            report from 1 NW Douglas - Chicago. Flooding
            on Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90) forcing
            closure of local lanes between roughly 18th
            Street and 31st Street.

1030 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE North Lawndale -  41.87N 87.69W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Report of a car stalled on Roosevelt just
            east of California.

1030 PM     Flash Flood      2 E North Lawndale - Ch 41.86N 87.68W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Report of viaduct flooded.

1035 PM     Flash Flood      Garfield Park - Chicago 41.88N 87.72W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Public

            Reports of multiple basements flooded on the
            near west side, Garfield Park area.

1037 PM     Flash Flood      2 SSW Chicago Loop      41.86N 87.65W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Broadcast Media

            Report of viaduct flooded.

1043 PM     Rain             2 W Chicago Loop        41.88N 87.66W
07/08/2025  M3.81 Inch       Cook               IL   Mesonet

            Corrects previous flash flood report from 2
            W Chicago Loop. Personal weather station
            measured 3.81 inches of rain since 8:50 PM.

1050 PM     Flash Flood      2 ENE Garfield Park - C 41.89N 87.68W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Trained Spotter

            At least 3 garages flooded. Back alley was a
            rushing river of water prior to rain rates
            easing.

1100 PM     Flash Flood      1 ENE Garfield Park - C 41.89N 87.69W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   911 Call Center

            Report of a car submerged in water on West
            Fulton Street.

1115 PM     Flood            1 WNW Chicago Loop      41.89N 87.65W
07/08/2025                   Cook               IL   Trained Spotter

            Photo shared on social media showing a few
            inches of standing water at Hubbards Cave on
            the Kennedy Expressway.

1130 PM     Rain             2 E Garfield Park - Chi 41.88N 87.68W
07/08/2025  M5.45 Inch       Cook               IL   Mesonet

            Updates previous rain report from 2 E
            Garfield Park - Chicago. Storm total
            rainfall of 5.45 inches of rain fell in
            approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. 5.12
            inches of rain fell between 8:55 and 10:25
            PM, within a 90 minute duration. Station ID
            KILCHICA498.


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