Flooding with the warmup? Maybe in some places
While people may be begging for a quick thaw to the 20 inches of snow that slammed the suburbs last week, those in charge of monitoring river and creek levels are hoping the snow melts slowly. Very slowly.
With temperatures expected to creep into the mid-40s by midweek, crews throughout the suburbs are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
If the forecast holds true, there will only be minor river and creek flooding in Lake, Cook, McHenry and DuPage counties, said Rita Lee, a water hydrologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
But if temperatures increase to more than 45 degrees for an extended period of time, or if any rain falls, the snow will melt more rapidly and could cause flooded homes.
“Flows will definitely increase, and the rivers will rise over their banks, but it won’t be too bad,” she said. “Lawns in low-lying areas will get water, but our models show it shouldn’t be high enough to damage homes.”
Street crews throughout the suburbs have been racing Mother Nature this week. Wheaton Streets Superintendent Bob Harazin said his staff has focused on clearing street drains.
“As we’re cleaning up the roads of snow, we are trying to clear them so drains are exposed,” he said. “There is no way we are going to get them all, but we’re doing what we can. Hopefully, it’s a gradual thaw.”
Harazin said he expects scattered large puddles throughout the city next week. For cities that have a history of flooding, the concerns are even greater.
Bartlett Director of Public Works Paul Kuester said crews will monitor village streets through next week.
“Given the temperatures predicted, we are anticipating flooding in Bartlett,” he said. “Public works crews have been pushing snow back and clearing drains as well as monitoring runoff areas. They will also be watching for standing water on the road pavement, which is an indication of a blocked drain.”
But the streets are not the only place officials should monitor, said National Weather Service meteorologist Samuel Shea.
He warned that melting ice could create ice floes on rivers and creeks and lead to further flooding.
“Just as (rivers and streams) start to melt, we could have the potential for ice jams blocking water flow,” he said. “We are taking a look and seeing what potential conditions could arise.”
Workers in East Dundee have been clearing access to creeks to make sure the water reaches the Fox River, which bisects East and West Dundee. East Dundee Interim Village Administrator Robert Skurla said the fluctuating temperatures will also make water main breaks likely.
“It’s not a question of if it will happen, but where and when,” he said.
Despite all the snow, officials say it only amounted to about 2 inches of water on the ground.
Ingrid Danler, executive director of the Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake, said there is no preparation that can be done if river levels start to rise.
“There’s nothing we can do now because everything is iced over,” she said. “But when the water levels start to rise and if flooding starts, we will respond and allocate resources to tend to any emergencies as they develop.”
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writers Sheila Ahern, Lenore Adkins and Ashok Selvam contributed to this report.