Roads and highways—even entire communities—were reportedly submerged by flood waters late Friday across sections of eastern Iowa and west-central Illinois in the wake of at least three waves of torrential downpours which began Thursday night. Ground reports in a corridor extending from near Des Moines to Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities south to Quincy, Ill., put rainfall totals at up to 7-8”. Doppler radar estimates ranged as high as 10” just west of Cedar Rapids.
Rescues were taking place Friday evening to free stranded motorists from vehicles trapped in flood waters. The flooding in sections of eastern Iowa was being described as the worst since 1993. In that benchmark meteorological event, Iowa was dubbed the “Sixth Great Lake” because of all the standing water there.
Thundery rains are to erupt again in waves Saturday, targeting areas in Illinois primarily south and west of Chicago.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
