Very heavy rain threat continues

A Flash Flood Watch has once again been issued for all of Northern Illinois through tonight.  Already, the rain that came through early Monday morning has produced between 1" to 2" inches, especially across NW Illinois.  With an additional 1" to 3" of rain expected through tonight, flash flooding is going to be a great concern across the area.

There is a little break in the radar now, but with a weak wave of low pressure riding over top a ridge of high pressure in the southeast, there is a very rich moisture flow coming up from the Gulf.  This is what has lead to all the rain we've experienced this past week, and the rain we'll receive later today.

Rainfall amounts expected later today will range anywhere from an additional 1" to 3".  Here are just a few of the rainfall totals from this morning:

(8:18:29 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: Galena [Jo Daviess Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M1.50 INCH at 08:17 AM CDT --

(8:03:54 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 ENE Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M1.00 INCH at 08:03 AM CDT --


(7:59:37 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 W Mount Carroll [Carroll Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M2.88 INCH at 07:58 AM CDT -- overnight. water ponding everywhere...no flooding yet.

Futurecast Rainfall totals through Wednesday night.

It's important to keep in mind that our forecast models have a little bit of a hard time pinpointing where exactly the heaviest rain bands will set up.  So, let's look at the rainfall like this:  One inch rainfall totals are almost a given today, with locally higher amounts nearing 3" by this evening.  Remember the saying, "Turn Around, Don't Drown".  Never drive through a flooded roadway, and remember to slow down when it's raining.  It's very easy to hydroplane with little water on the road.