Crews Rescue Stranded Lake Co. Residents From Flooded Homes

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Firefighters worked early Friday to rescue residents from flooded homes in Lake County. Several feet of water was reportedly standing on roadways in the county early Friday morning and Waukegan appeared to among the towns the hardest hit by the flooding where rescue boats responded to help save stranded residents, according to ABC 7.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Lake and McHenry counties, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rainfall fell overnight with one to three inches recorded across a large portion of north central Illinois. Heavier rainfall totals were recorded with three to up to five inches in areas near Rockford northeast through Poplar Grove and ending around Harvard, weather officials said.

This comes after strong storms with heavy rainfall hit the area Wednesday night. Flooding is occurring on roadways across the area, according to the National Weather Service. Drivers should turn around if they see a flooded roadway and not attempt to drive through.

Meanwhile, more rain is expected Friday morning for far eastern Illinois but should taper off by mid-morning, according to the National Weather Service. There is a chance for more rain Saturday night and into early Sunday.

More via the National Weather Service

THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS UPDATED AT 6:40 A.M. ON SEPT. 13

THE BELOW INFORMATION WAS UPDATED AT 9 A.M. ON SEPT. 12

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A flood warning has been issued for Lake and McHenry counties after heavy rainfall Wednesday night left some roadways flooded and impassible this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The flood warning will remain in effect through 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

Severe storms ripped through the area Wednesday night and a tornado warning was issued for McHenry, Lake and Cook counties around 7 p.m. No tornado touchdowns have been reported as of early Thursday morning. In Crystal Lake, wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded at 10:20 p.m., according to a National Weather Service storm report.

• Tornado Warning Issued For Lake, McHenry, Cook Counties

As of early Thursday, law enforcement agencies in Lake and McHenry counties reported flooding over portions of Lake and McHenry counties, according to the National Weather Service. Willow Road between Council Trail and Hiwatha Drive in Lake in the Hills has been closed due to flooding as of early Thursday, according to the Lake in the Hills Police Department.

• Have you noticed a roadway that is flooded/impassible? Reply to this article below to let your neighbors know and/or e-mail the editor at amie.schaenzer@patch.com.

"Many creeks, streams, and rivers remain elevated and some roads are flooded and impassible," according to a National Weather Service update at 5 a.m. Thursday. "Rain has ended, but flooding will continue from runoff following the overnight heavy rain."

The Fox River in McHenry and Kane counties, and the Des Plaines River in Lake County, are nearing flood stage. A flood warning will take effect for the Fox River, from Johnsburg south to Red Gate Road in St. Charles, starting late Thursday night and continuing through Sunday evening.

At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, the river had reached 8.7 feet at the Algonquin lock and dam, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 9.5 feet. The river is expected to fall below flood stage by Sunday afternoon.

When the river reaches 10 feet in Algonquin, Winaki Trail and Onaway Trail south of Algonquin face flooding issues, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood warning has also been issued for the Des Plaines River from the Illinois-Wisconsin state line downstream to US-41 in Gurnee, according to the National Weather Service. That flood warning will take effect starting late on Thursday and continuing through Saturday morning.

As of early Thursday, the river level was at 6.2 feet and flood stage is 7 feet. Minor flooding is in the forecast and the river is expected to rise above flood stage by early Friday, according to the National Weather Service. At 7 feet, water flows into surrounding farm and marshland near the river.

No roadways in Lake County have been closed due to flooding as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the Lake County PASSAGE website, which provides live traffic updates.

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