Flooding in Chicago is intensifying rapidly, and for many residents, every major rainstorm now brings a sense of dread.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, researchers at the University of Illinois warned in a 2025 memo that rainfall from severe storms could increase by another inch by 2050.
The risk is compounded by aging infrastructure built for a very different climate. Over the past century, heavy rain events in Chicago have become about seven times more likely, with some storms now dumping more than 8.5 inches in just 24 hours…