Chicago weather: Rounds of rainfall add to river flooding concerns in Lake County, Illinois

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (WLS) — Friday night’s rainfall is adding to flooding concerns in Lake County, Illinois. County officials on Saturday said the Des Plaines River, Fox River and Chain O’Lakes are particularly impacted.

Chopper 7 flew over the Fox river in unincorporated Antioch on Friday, where there was some flooding. There was also some flooding in Lincolnshire. The Des Plaines River is expected to crest this weekend.

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There was some flooding in the north suburban village of Lincolnshire, but even though the rain has stopped, there’s still concern that the river may continue to rise.

Some people along Oxford Drive in north suburban Lincolnshire breathed a sigh of relief Saturday after their neighborhood narrowly escapes flood waters.

“The last time it flooded it was 2017, and that’s what all these roads were underwater, and I think they said that river made it up to 16 feet high,” neighborhood resident Ludwig Smith said.

Many eyes are still on the Des Plaines River in the north suburb after a large stretch of Lincolnshire Drive and Londonderry Lane was under flood water, made worse because of ongoing construction.

Pumps to remove rain runoff will remain in place throughout the weekend in areas along the Des Plaines River that are prone to flood.

Meanwhile, local and county officials say they are monitoring river levels, which are close to cresting and could cause major flooding.

“Yeah, things aren’t great right now, they are gonna get a little worse the waters are gonna get a little higher,” said Brian Frank, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission chief engineer “Thankfully there’s usually some lead time with rivering flooding. The rivering flooding is typically in Lake County days, so be prepared.”

The village’s public works department is providing sandbags to anyone who wants them.

The Des Plaines River is expected to crest in this area at about 15 feet either sometime over the weekend or even Monday.