After Texas and New Mexico, Chicago now receives a month's rain in 90 minutes - flash flood warning issued
Chicago flash flooding
After Texas and New Mexico, more than a month's worth of rain fell on Chicago's West Side in 90 minutes on Tuesday night, flooding streets, basements, and viaducts, the
National Weather Service
(NWS) stated, as per a report by Newsweek.
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Some areas received nearly 6.6 inches of rain, necessitating emergency rescues. The
flash flood warning
has expired, but the city continues to assess the damage. Chicago and Cicero were under a flash flood warning through 12.45 a.m. on Wednesday.
"There were numerous reports of flooded viaducts, several reports of water rescues, and a few reports of flooded basements," the National Weather Service stated.
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Tuesday night's storm began as a few pop-up thunderstorms at 8 p.m. and developed into the untidy, slow storm that caught some people off guard. Chicago's intense downpour comes after last week's devastating floods in Texas' Hill Country killed over 100 people.
According to Reuters, at least three people were killed by flash floods in New Mexico on Tuesday, including two children in the resort village of Ruidoso.
Which areas in Chicago were hit the hardest?
According to data from the Illinois State Climatologist, this is more precipitation than the city typically receives each month, which is about 4.5 inches.
Over five inches of rain fell Tuesday night within ninety minutes west of the United Center, according to the Chicago-based NWS forecast office.
According to CBS Chicago, the West Side of Chicago, which includes Homan Square, Douglass Park, and Tri-Taylor, saw particularly difficult circumstances, reported Newsweek.
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It also stated that Douglass Park received 6.6 inches of rain in total, and rescue operations were carried out at Ashland Avenue, Kinzie Street, Western and Ogden Avenue.
Chicago and Cicero are no longer under a flash flood warning. The NWS posts forecast updates on its website on a regular basis.
The Flash Flood Warning for east central Cook County has been extended until 12:45 PM. This includes the city of Chicago.
pic.twitter.com/1GRDxN7I2X
— Emily Wahls (@EmilyWahls)
July 9, 2025
On X, the Chicago-based NWS forecast office reported that a personal weather station recorded 5.06 inches of rain in 1 hour and 30 minutes just west of the United Center.
During the evening of July 8, 2025, a stationary thunderstorm produced a very localized area of 2 to 5"+ of rain. At one station, 5.14" of rain fell in just 90 minutes! Such torrential rain rates led to flooded viaducts, water rescues, and basements in the impacted area.
#ILwx
pic.twitter.com/4QXpEdJv25
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
July 9, 2025
According to a post by meteorologist Emily Wahls on X, water rescues are being conducted at Western and Ogden, Fulton and Maple, and flooded viaducts as a result of the ongoing flash flood flooding in Chicago.
FLASH FLOODING: Reports of water rescues at Western and Ogden, and at Fulton and Maypole. Also getting reports of flooded viaducts. Rain gauge just west of the United Center is reporting 4.62" of rain, most of which has fallen in the past hour. DON'T DRIVE THRU FLOODED STREETS!
pic.twitter.com/2NTPta3d5j
— Emily Wahls (@EmilyWahls)
July 9, 2025
FAQs
How much rain fell in Chicago on Tuesday night?
Over five inches fell in just 90 minutes, with some areas, such as Douglass Park, receiving as much as 6.6 inches, more than the city's average monthly rainfall.
Was anyone injured or rescued during the flood?
Emergency crews performed water rescues in several locations, including Western & Ogden and Ashland & Kinzie, but no major injuries have been reported thus far.
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