Wind, boating advisories throughout area

Recent heavy rain is pushing water levels on the Fox River and Chain O' Lakes precariously close to overflowing their banks, Lake County Emergency Management officials said Tuesday.

Already, the Fox Waterway Agency has enacted boating restrictions on the Fox River between the Stratton Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry and the Algonquin Dam. No wake restrictions limit boaters to speeds of less than 5 mph, or slow enough as to not generate a wake. The upper river and the Chain could see restrictions by the end of the week as high water from Wisconsin flows south.

"It's hard to predict, but we think there will be some minor flooding later this week," said Kent McKenzie, head of Lake County emergency management. "But, any rainfall through the weekend could push that higher."

Officials think the Fox River Springs area near the Wisconsin border could be affected. The National Weather Service predicts water levels will crest 3 feet over flood stage Thursday. That means lawns, some streets and a home or two could get wet in the small subdivision off Route 173.

Ed Lescher, head of the Fox Lake Emergency Management Agency, said officials are watching water levels, but he doesn't anticipate any problems.

"We should be fine as long as the rain stays away or is light over the next week," he said. "The normal low subdivisions might have water on the lawns, but it shouldn't be much worse than that."

McKenzie said no flood damage is expected along the Des Plaines River, as the water should remain about 6 inches below flood levels.

With melting snow and spring rains, minor floods have always been a rite of spring along the Chain, but seem to have worsened in recent years.

Fox Lake, Antioch and Fox River Springs have had three major floods since August 2007, the worst being last June when more than 400 homes were damaged after the Chain rose to 2 feet over flood levels.

Flood advisories

The latest rainfall to the already saturated ground in northern Illinois has prompted more flood advisories from the National Weather Service, officials said Tuesday.

Many roads are already closed due to standing water from heavy rains and overflowing rivers, officials said.

Flooding is reported in Bolingbrook, Naperville and Downers Grove, officials said.

Because the ground already is saturated from three inches of rain over the weekend, the rain that fell overnight had no where to go, officials said.

While the day's earlier flood warning has expired, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for gusts that could reach up to 50 m.p.h. tonight and could result in power outages.

In addition, the lows will hit 24 degrees overnight, which should make the morning commute extra slippery, officials said.

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