(CHICAGO) Metra is expecting to operate normal rush hour service Wednesday evening after trains were suspended earlier on the Milwaukee District North Line because of flooding.
However, there may be more storms to come. There is a slight chance of more showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Wednesday, then again after 1 a.m. Thursday, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning until 2:45 p.m. for Elgin, Arlington Heights and Evanston. Another flash food warning is in effect until 4:15 p.m. for Chicago, Aurora and Naperville. The weather service warned people to avoid walking or driving through flood waters, and to move immediately to higher ground.
The normal Metra weekday schedule will resume on the Milwaukee District North Line starting with the 2:35 p.m. departure from Union Station. However, trains may be delayed up to 15 minutes because of speed restrictions in the areas affected by flooding.
Additionally, Trains 2123, 2129 and 2135 from Union Station will not operate, according to Metra spokesman Michael Gillis. The plan could be changed if there is additional rain and flooding, Gillis added.
Amtrak Hiawatha Service was restored in the afternoon with the departure of Train 338 from Milwaukee at 3 p.m. and Train 337 from Chicago 3:15 p.m., according to a statement from Amtrak.
“Amtrak thanks Metra and CP, the owners of the tracks on either side of Roundout, Ill., for their work to resolve the temporary track closure due to heavy rains in the area earlier today,” according to the statement.
Additionally, at least 435 flights had been canceled at O’Hare as of 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, and flight delays were averaging 45 minutes, according to the city’s Dept. of Aviation. At Midway, 18 flights been canceled and delays were averaging 23 minutes.
At the height of the storms, more than 51,000 ComEd customers lost power, according to a ComEd spokesman. As of 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, 28,000 customers remain without power, most in the northern suburbs. Crews are working to get power restored as soon as it is safe to do so.
By early Wednesday afternoon, up to 6.5 inches of rain had fallen across parts of Lake County, resulting in significant flooding that made several roads impassible. Many water storage areas are full or over capacity, and additional rains will continue to cause problems, and the Fox and Des Plaines rivers are projected to be at upper moderate flood levels.
Standing water had closed several roads in Libertyville as of 6:25 a.m., including U.S. 45 between Peterson and Casey roads, and Buckley Road between Milwaukee Avenue and St. Mary’s Road, according to Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani.
At least seven vehicles were stuck in high water, but all of the occupants were removed safely, Carani said.
The flooding also closed Lake Street between Maple Avenue and Division Street in Mundelein, the Mundelein Police Department reported.
High winds from the storms overnight knocked down trees and power lines, causing power outages in northwest suburban Elgin, the city said in a statement. The area between the Grand Victoria Casino and Liberty Street was affected by power outages, as was the area between Wilcox Avenue and Liberty south of Walnut Avenue.
While rain was still falling, a total of 5.4 inches of rain had been reported near Gurnee as of 6 a.m., according to the weather service. Lake Villa saw 5.31 inches, while there were 4.29 inches near Elgin and 4.2 near Lindenhurst.
