Cars were stranded and submerged on highways and under viaducts in the Chicago area Tuesday night after a thunderstorm produced quick falling, “torrential rain rates,” leading to flooded basements, water rescues “life-threatening” travel conditions and more.
The rain came as the number of people missing from catastrophic floods in central Texas near Camp Mystic climbed to more than 160, officials said. As of Tuesday, the death toll stood at at least 110, including 30 children.
In Illinois, Tuesday’s quick-falling rain led some parts of Chicago and Cook County to get upwards of five inches of rain in less than three hours. According to the National Weather Service, Garfield Park recorded 5.45 inches of rain.
In the Loop, 3.81 inches of rain fell. 3.5 inches of rain was recorded in Mokena, and 2.3 inches fell in Valparaiso, Indiana.
“One gauge west of the United Center measured 5.12 inches of rain in just 90 minutes,” the NWS said. “A staggeringly high rainfall rate.”
During the evening of July 8, 2025, a stationary thunderstorm produced a very localized area of 2 to 5"+ of rain. At one station, 5.14" of rain fell in just 90 minutes! Such torrential rain rates led to flooded viaducts, water rescues, and basements in the impacted area. #ILwx pic.twitter.com/4QXpEdJv25
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 9, 2025But not everyone saw the wet weather.
“The northern counties barely saw anything over the last 24 hours,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Early Wednesday morning, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin said roads were quiet. Reports of standing water on roads and highways in the city had mostly dissipated, but fog was becoming an issue, with visibility down below three miles for some.
“Prepare for variable visibilities, plan for extra travel time and use caution on roadways,” the NWS warned.
According to Roman, most of the Chicago area will remain mostly sunny and dry Wednesday, though some isolated, scattered showers or thundershowers could form around 1 p.m.
The areas that could see rain include Gary and Valparaiso in Indiana, and areas close to the lakefront in Illinois, Roman said.
Temperatures Wednesday would be seasonal, Roman said, with highs in the mid-80s but cooler along Lake Michigan. Choppy waves will develop along the lake, the NWS said, with dangerous currents and “life-threatening” swimming conditions along beaches in northwestern Indiana and southwestern Michigan.
Winds and waves will quickly build this afternoon and evening leading to the development of choppy waves and dangerous rip currents. The most dangerous conditions are currently expected at northwestern Indiana and southwestern Michigan beaches. Stay dry when waves are high! pic.twitter.com/jr5ya225an
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 9, 2025The next best chance for showers and storms comes Friday, Roman said, with rain chances morning through evening.
“We could see heavy downpours with any storms that do develop,” Roman said, of Friday.
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