Chicago Weather Alert: Heavy rain causes flooding around Chicago area
DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) -- Streets and parking lots were left inundated, cars were stranded, and trees were damaged.
The floodwaters came in waves and gushers – with the latest coming through during the 9 p.m. hour, adding to the collection of water in parking lots that stranded drivers and rattled residents.
At 87th Street and Roberts Road in Hickory Hills, the Roberts Park Fire Protection District reported the storm knocked down power lines onto cars, one of which caught fire.
It made for an early-evening scare for Ardena Hall.
"I saw a blue light, and it was like a loud bang," Hall said, "and I noticed that that green car in the back was on fire."
Hall moved from one room to another to get a sense of what was going on - and she was not alone.
"Yeah, there's three poles that are affected - and it's affected a large area of the city at this point," said Roberts Park Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Chris Knights.
On Chicago's Near West Side, the railroad viaduct at Ogden and Western avenues was flooded – with water up to car doors. Emergency crews responded, appearing to clear away debris from the sewer grates.
Along 31st Street at Robinson Street in McKinley Park, drivers were also stuck.
"It looked pretty drivable," said a stranded motorist. "I didn't see anything like - I thought I was going to be able to make it. But I was proved wrong."
In southwest suburban Bridgeview, flooding was likewise widespread. And downtown at Michigan Avenue and Lake Street, heavy rains turned a late afternoon pitch-black.
In Niles, the parking lot at the Golf Mill Shopping Center was left flooded. Some drivers found themselves in calf-deep cold water upon returning to their cars, while others found floodwaters coming up to the middle of their car doors.
Golf Mill shoppers also found it difficult to find a clear path out once they tried to drive away.
"I felt like my car was floating," said Ali Sami. "It was that bad."
Not far away in Des Plaines, the back parking lot of a fast-food restaurant became a pond a foot deep.
As the water continued to fall late Monday night, the one silver lining is there was no word of any injuries.
First Alert Weather:
Scattered showers continue overnight and will linger into Tuesday morning. The flash flood threat has ended, as most of the activity over the next several hours will remain light.
A few light showers will be possible for the morning commute with temperatures in the 60s. Look for clearing skies in the mid-afternoon, with highs in the low to mid-70s.
TONIGHT: RAIN & WIND. LOW 63.
TUESDAY: MORNING SHOWER CHANCE. THEN CLEARING SKIES. HIGH 76. GUSTY NORTH WINDS.
WEDNESDAY: FULL SUN. HIGH 82.
