Oct 30, 2009 8:54 pm US/Central
Rain Soaks Chicago, Flood Watch Issued
Chicagoans Frustrated By Constant Wet Weather
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Many water-logged Chicagoans are getting sick and tired of this constant wet weather.
CBS
The rain that fell overnight is expected to leave the city soggy throughout the day Friday, and it has already left several major thoroughfares washed out.
The rain Friday comes at the end of an October that has set a record for days with measurable rainfall.
A flood watch is in effect through the evening for much of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, including all of Cook County. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several bodies of water in the Chicago area, including the Little Calumet River, the Illinois River and Thorn Creek.
The rivers have gone up between 1.5 to 3 inches, meteorologist Tim Halbach said.
The weather service also said winds are currently up to 35 mph, the highest expected point for wind gusts.
Halloween is expected to be windy, with gusts around 30 mph, and chilly, with temperatures in the 40s.
The ground is already saturated, and the rainfall will bring runoff with rapid rises on river and waterway levels, the National Weather Service said.
The month of October 2009 has set a record for the number of days with measurable rain, by a long shot.
Kleist says this October, there were 19 days with measurable rain.
CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports that many water-logged Chicagoans are getting sick and tired of this constant wet weather. By midday, the flooding on the roads receded, but there was still no end in sight to the constant raindrops falling on our heads.
While workers were busy draining the sewers, the weather seems to be draining the life out of the rest of us.
Chicago Water Department crews had a busy morning because of the weather.
The city's 2,000 gallon water trucks can only hold so much. One of them had to be emptied in Lincoln Park after it suctioned up water that flooded Lake Shore Drive during the morning rush.
"We had a lot of rain coupled with a lot of leaves falling, so the two of those together, they create a problem," said Water Department Engineer Steve Suerth.
By 9 a.m. only deep puddles remained along Inner and Outer Lake Shore Drive near Schiller. But it was still messy getting around for most people.
Mary Williams had to walk through a puddle getting off a CTA bus.
"I was just talking to the bus driver about that," she said. "I said, 'it looks like we got an ocean here."
The rain also flooded viaducts, including one in Melrose Park. Police had to block off a lane and direct traffic to prevent anyone from getting stuck until the water receded.
After 19 straight days of this, the rain is also dampening spirits. Helene Stone is entertaining guests visiting from sunny California.
"They'll be here until Sunday and we want to show them around Chicago," she said. "But we don't know if we can get out of the car once it starts raining."
Stone admits the weather is getting a little frustrating.
"I've got a dog to walk every day," she said. "She loves the snow, she can't wait. But I can wait."
CBS 2's Mary Kay Kleist and Susan Carlson contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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