Flash Flood Warning Still In Place For Will, Cook, Grundy

ILLINOIS — A tornado watch for Cook, DuPage, Kankakee and Will counties has expired, but one is still in place until 9 p.m. for counties including Champaign, Vermillion and Cumberland.

The largest threat of severe weather today was from noon to 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, but some risk could last until as late as 9 p.m.

Saturday afternoon, a tornado was spotted over Crete moving northeast at around 2:08 p.m. and was captured on camera by storm chaser Bob Waszak.

A flash flood warning is in place until 9:45 p.m. for Will County, southeastern Cook, east central Grundy, northwestern Kankakee County and parts of northwest Indiana.

"Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Chicago, Joliet, Hammond, Gary, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Calumet City, Portage, Merrillville, Chicago Heights,
Roseland, Englewood, South Shore, East Chicago, Schererville, Hobart, Lansing, Oak Forest and Crown Point," the National Weather Service said.

As cleanup and relief efforts continue in DuPage County after Sunday's tornado, more severe weather was headed to Illinois — and "at least three tornadoes" touched down in Champaign, Piatt and Iroquois counties Friday night.

Multiple rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain through Sunday bring the risk of flooding and flash flooding, especially since some areas already received 1 to 4 inches of rain over the past 48 hours. Additional rain will likely lead to runoff and flash flooding, the weather service said.

At around 1 p.m. Saturday, flash flooding was reported on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The NWS said this flooding will "likely be slow to subside" even as storms taper over the city. Drivers should not cross flooded roads, according to the NWS.

A "wet pattern" of rain and storms will continue through the weekend and likely into Monday and Tuesday.

The National Weather Service reminds residents: Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. A flash flood warning means rapid-onset flooding is imminent or may already be occurring. Persons along creeks, drainage ditches, and other waterways should take immediate precautions to protect life and property.

Flooding in Chicago's Albany Park Saturday afternoon/Eric DeGrechie, Patch