Flash Flood — Winnebago, Illinois

2025-07-10 · near Latham Park, Winnebago, Illinois

Event narrative

Torrential rain fell across portions of Rockford, Cherry Valley and Loves Park in a very short time during the late afternoon of July 10th. Several vehicles were stranded in flood waters a few feet deep in multiple locations and street flooding occurred in many areas. Video showed waist deep water on Argus Drive between Buckley Drive and Sundae Drive where at least two cars and a city transit bus were stuck in flood waters. Six passengers were on the bus when it stopped because of the flood waters and there were no injuries reported. A photo showed 2 to 3 feet of standing water on Golf Hill Road at Putter Place. A photo showed water at least one foot deep on Alpine Road at Charles Street. A photo showed flooding along East State Street. Flood waters entered at least one home and one apartment building. One motorist commented that the flooding developed very quickly as they were driving. At least 17 cars were stalled in flood waters, most just past the bottom of the doors but 2 cars had flood waters over the hoods. Hurricane Harbor, an amusement park, was flooded and was closed for 10 days. Rainfall of 2.62 inches in one hour was reported two miles east southeast of Machesney Park at 1626 CST.

Additional thunderstorms moved across some of the same areas during the early evening with additional flooding reported in Loves Park where flood waters entered the garage of an industrial building on Beacon Street.

Storm total rainfall amounts included 6.50 inches one mile east of Loves Park; 5.05 inches two miles north northwest of Machesney Park; 4.41 inches one mile northwest of Machesney Park; 3.93 inches south southwest of Rockton and 3.78 inches two miles south southeast of Loves Park.

Wider weather episode

Scattered thunderstorms moved across portions of northern Illinois during the afternoon of July 10th producing large hail, wind damage and heavy rain. Localized flash flooding occurred around Rockford. Additional thunderstorms moved across central portions of Illinois during the late evening of July 10th into the early morning of July 11th producing isolated wind damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.3692, -89.0800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1271129. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.