Severe storms dumping up to 2 inches of rain per hour are triggering flash flooding across Rockford and northern Illinois, with river flooding risks expected to continue into early next week.
Flash Flood Warning Issued
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Boone and Winnebago counties as dangerous flash flooding conditions develop across northern Illinois.
According to the National Weather Service, the flood warning remains in effect until 2:30 am on Thursday (4/16), with forecasts tracking intense thunderstorms capable of producing rainfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour.
Doppler radar indicated storms were rapidly intensifying and flash flooding was underway on Wednesday night, with immediate concerns for Rockford, Belvidere, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, and South Beloit.
Rainfall Compounds Already Saturated Ground
The flooding threat is being intensified by earlier storms that dumped between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain across portions of the warned area on Tuesday night…