Major Flooding Threat on Des Plaines River
- Heavy rain has driven river levels up, prompting warnings that 'major flooding' could impact Des Plaines River suburbs. - Multiple suburbs along the Des Plaines River face potential inundation as waterways rise rapidly. - Residents should prepare for evacuations and road closures as officials warn of property risk (nbcchicago.com).
The Des Plaines River is rising toward major flood stage in several Chicago-area suburbs after repeated rounds of April rain. (nbcchicago.com) The National Weather Service forecast the river to crest at 15.5 feet Saturday evening between Libertyville and Prospect Heights, and NBC Chicago reported Lincolnshire was among the communities facing “major flooding.” (nbcchicago.com) At the Des Plaines gauge in Cook County, major flood stage begins at 19 feet, and NOAA says 21 feet can push inundation of structures and roads up to a block from the river in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights. (water.noaa.gov) In Lincolnshire, the village said at 3 p.m. Saturday that the river was already in moderate flood stage and was expected to reach major flood stage by 7 a.m. Sunday, April 19. (lincolnshireil.gov) Lincolnshire officials said Lincolnshire Drive will flood if the river reaches 16 feet, pumps were left running through the night, and sandbags were available at the Public Works facility on Schelter Road. (lincolnshireil.gov) Lake County emergency managers told Fox 32 they had staged shelters with the Red Cross and Salvation Army, distributed more than 20,000 sandbags, and were preparing for possible evacuations in communities including Gurnee and Lincolnshire. (fox32chicago.com) Road closures had already started by Saturday night. Gurnee police shut part of Grand Avenue, including the Grand and Milwaukee intersection, after the Des Plaines River spilled into the roadway, and officials warned closures could extend east toward Route 41. (fox32chicago.com) This stretch of river floods differently from block to block because each gauge has its own trigger points. At Riverside, for example, NOAA sets major flood stage at 9 feet, with residences threatened near 39th Street in Riverside at 10.5 feet and structures threatened near Brookfield Zoo at 11 feet. (water.noaa.gov) The warnings follow several days of heavy rain across northern Illinois. ABC 7 Chicago reported Lake County officials were also tracking flood risks on the Fox River and Chain O’Lakes as waterways rose together. (abc7chicago.com) For residents along the Des Plaines, the next step is simple and urgent: watch the local gauge, move cars and valuables early, and expect more road closures before the river falls. (lincolnshireil.gov)
