Fire crews were kept busy responding to dozens of calls after severe thunderstorms brought flooding and power outages to Lake and McHenry counties Saturday evening.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for McHenry County around 8:10 p.m. Saturday. A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for Lake County around 8:40 p.m.
The NWS said severe thunderstorms were identified along a line extending from Powers Lake to Richmond to Wonder Lake to Woodstock.
The storms were moving east at 50 mph and producing wind gusts of 70 mph.
The NWS warned of considerable tree damage as well as damage to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings.
The line of slow-moving thunderstorms produced swaths of heavy rain near the Wisconsin state line and Interstate 88 corridor, causing instances of flash flooding.
A flash flooding warning remained in effect in McHenry County and Lake County until early Sunday morning.
The NWS reported Sunday morning that preliminary rainfall reports showed the highest rainfall in the Chicago area was in Lake County and McHenry County.
According to NWS data from official climate sites, Holiday Hills reported 5.03 inches of rain, Tower Lakes reported 4.94 inches, Mundelein reported 4.91 inches, Cary reported 4.37 inches, Woodstock reported 3.80 inches, Long Lake reported 3.75 inches and North Barrington reported 3.35 inches.
Fire departments in McHenry County responded to approximately 20 storm-related calls for service, many of which were for wires down.
Route 173 was shut down in both directions from Kemman Road to Lange Road near Hebron due to multiple trees and wires down.
“The road will be closed for an extended period of time. Please remember not to drive around any emergency vehicles,” fire officials said. The roadway has since reopened but crews remain in the area working on repairs.
Fire departments in Lake County also responded to dozens of storm-related calls, some of which included power lines down, trees down and vehicles stuck in the water.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported numerous trees and power, cable and phone lines down.
“Our dispatch center is fielding many calls about them and our deputies, auxiliary units and road crews are working diligently to get it all cleaned up,” the sheriff’s office said around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Antioch Fire Department received over 50 storm-related calls for service.
Police reported around 10:30 p.m. Saturday that flooding in Lake Bluff required the closure of the Sheridan Road viaduct at Scranton Avenue.
Flooding also required the closure of the viaduct on Route 41 north of Route 176 near Lake Bluff after multiple vehicles became stuck in the water.
A tow truck was called to the area of Route 45 and Townline Road in Mundelein after a vehicle became disabled in high water around 11:15 p.m.
Police shut down Jackson Street at Grand Avenue in Waukegan just before 10 p.m. after an electrical pole caught fire and a power line fell down into the street.
The intersection of Taylor Avenue and Perennial Lane in Highland Park was closed due to high water from the storms.
ComEd reported early Sunday morning that 20,000 customers were without power.
As of 11 a.m., ComEd reported just over 7,000 customers remained without power as crews continued to restore service.