Remnants of Hurricane Beryl were bringing heavy rains and possible flooding to Chicago and surrounding areas overnight Tuesday that were expected to last into Wednesday.
Heavy downpours were forecast overnight as the center of the storm passes through the area, the National Weather Service said.
Weather officials warned residents of possible flooding in areas with poor drainage. And rains could combine with winds up to 45 mph to slow the Wednesday morning commute.
The heaviest rain was expected along and east of Interstate 55, but parts of Interstate 90, Interstate 94 and Interstate 57 were also at risk of flooding.
Scattered storms are possible Wednesday night.
Weather officials also warned residents to stay away from Lake Michigan on Wednesday as the storm could cause dangerous wave conditions along the shoreline.
Flash Flood Warning this evening: Be aware of rapid-onset flooding of creeks, streams, drainage ditches, streets, underpasses, low-lying areas, and other poor drainage areas. This includes rain rates up to 3 inches per hour in the warned area. Please take precautions. pic.twitter.com/s4nh2zVIgC
— Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) July 9, 2024
A flood watch was in effect for Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Heavy to torrential rainfall will spread northward across northern IL and northwest IN through the rest of today. Localized instances of flooding are expected, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Remember if you encounter floodwater, Turn Around, Don’t Drown!! pic.twitter.com/qBkplwAOXQ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 9, 2024
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago issued an overflow action day alert Tuesday — warning residents to limit their water usage.
Until the alert is lifted, residents are asked to delay showers and baths, not run dishwashers and wait to wash clothes.
Beryl, which made landfall early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, has been blamed for at least seven deaths — one in Louisiana and six in Texas — and at least 11 in the Caribbean. At midday Tuesday, it was a post-tropical cyclone centered over Arkansas and was forecast to bring heavy rains and possible flooding to a swath extending to the Great Lakes and Canada.
More than 2 million homes and businesses around Houston lacked electricity Tuesday.
When Beryl made landfall, it was far less powerful than the Category 5 behemoth that tore a deadly path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Beryl was the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 in the Atlantic.
Contributing: Associated Press
