Chicago Flood 2008

On September 13th 2008, 6.64 inches of rain fell in Chicago. This broke the old record for the maximum rainfall in a day of 2.26 inches set back in 1936. This also breaks the amount of rainfall to fall in a 24 hour period in Chicago history dating back from when records started being recorded in 1871. The old record was 6.49 inches set back in August 14 1987. No one will forget anytime soon the three day rain event (from September 13 to September 15 2008) that flooded so many homes, roads, and rivers. By Sunday night, much of Northern Illinois including the Chicago metro area and Northwest Indiana received a total rainfall accumulation between 6 to 10 inches. Heres the doppler radar showing the storm estimates from the weekend flooding.

Not minor, but major flooding took place. Many of the main rivers shattered old records by several inches. Homes were completely destroyed and several roads had to be abandoned. Here is a list from NOAA of rivers that reached record levels.

***River Crests for Select Locations in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana

The following is a list of preliminary crest data for select river locations. Some rivers have not yet crested. This data may be updated or corrected as new crest information is made available. To get more information on each data point, go to our Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) webpage.

Last updated 9/16/08


Location

Flood Stage
Crest (ft) Remarks
HART DITCH
Dyer 15 16.76 9/14/2008 New record. Previous record was 15.66 on Aug 24, 2007
Munster 6 12.81 9/14/2008 New record. Previous record was 9.22 on Aug 24, 2007

LITTLE CALUMET RIVER
Munster 12 17.31 9/14/2008 Record crest. Previous record was 15.66 on Nov 28, 1990
South Holland 16.5 20.16

DES PLAINES RIVER
Des Plaines 5 10.00 9/14/2008 Second highest crest on record.
Riverside 7 9.86 9/14/2008 Second highest crest on record.

FOX RIVER
Dayton 12 21.55 9/15/2008

ILLINOIS RIVER
Morris 16 24.84 9/16/2008

Record crest. Previous record was 23.91 on July 14, 1957
LaSalle 20

33.64 9/16/2008


River still rising. Record crest. Previous record was 32.05 on Dec 5, 1982

KANKAKEE RIVER
Shelby 9 13.06 9/16/2008

Record crest. Previous record 12.98 on Mar 24, 1982. River still rising.
Mommence 5 7.00 9/15/2008
Wilmington 6.5 8.68 9/15/2008

VERMILION RIVER
Leonore 16 24.29 9/15/2008 Third highest crest on record.***