Rain alert: Heavy storms could flood Chicago soon

A flood watch is now active across Chicago as storms gather strength. Rain could pour down at speeds up to three inches every hour later today. Areas hit hard by Wednesday’s storms face the highest risk. City streets and low spots around homes may fill with water quickly. The weather service warns that high humidity and warm air make heavy rain more likely.Weather experts say storms might stall over the same neighborhoods. This could overload creeks and rivers already swollen by recent rain. The watch lasts until 11 p. m. tonight. So far today, strong storms have already struck parts of Illinois and Indiana. Wind, hail, and even tornadoes could turn up as the day goes on. The Storm Prediction Center ranks today’s danger level as “moderate. ” That’s a strong warning sign. People should stay alert and avoid underpasses or dips in roads. The ground is already soggy from earlier storms. Adding three inches of rain in an hour would make flooding hard to escape.