Flood — Winnebago, Illinois

1997-02-20 to 1997-02-22 · Winnebago, Illinois

Wider weather episode

Heavy rainfall occurred during the period from February 20th to early February 22nd. Between 3 to 4 inches of rain fell over parts of Northern Illinois. Widespread extensive flooding resulted from the heavy rains falling over still frozen soils.Rainfall totals for this period include; O'hare - *4.07 inches(*highest daily rainfall amount for any day in February in Chicago), Midway - 4.6 inches, Aurora - 4.0 inches, Romeoville (NWS office) 4.2 inches, Elgin - 3.9 inches, Libertyville - 3.3 inches, Hampshire - 3.5 inches, Morris - 4.0 inches, Wheaton - -3.6 inches, Park Forest - 3.2 inches, Ottawa - 3.2 inches and DeKalb - 3.2 inches.Along the Upper Illinois River, from Morris down to LaSalle, the river crested within a foot of record crest on February 22nd. Flooding forced the closure of Nettle Creek School and Saratoga School in Morris. In Grundy County, numerous roads were flooded with an estimated $48,000 in roadway damage. Property damage was estimated at $250,000 throughout Grundy County. In Sycamore, DeKalb County, some 300 residents were evacuated from Evergreen Terrace Mobile Home Park. In Ottawa, the Ottawa Township High School and Central Schools had an estimated $40,000 worth of damage.The heavy rainfall brought the Des Plaines River above flood stage. It was estimated as many as 200 homes were affected in some way by the Des Plaines River flooding. In Maine Township of Cook County, some 168 homes received water damage.Widespread flooding occurred along the Pecatonica and Kishwaukee Rivers in North Central Illinios. Flooding affected primarily roads and large areas of farmland along the river.One death occurred during this period. A 63 year-old woman died when she drove her car into a barricaded, flooded viaduct under railroad tracks in Matteson, a south suburb of Chicago.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5589915. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.