Downpours Swell River, Flood Streets In Northbrook

 The North Branch of the Chicago River in Northbrook has swelled to a rushing, muddy tide after the torrential downpour Wednesday morning. As seen from the Walters Avenue bridge near downtown mid-afternoon Wednesday, the river had risen several feet. 

Further downstream, the storm runoff had flooded approximately 100 feet of walkway that runs along the river just south of Orchard Lane, east of Techny Prairie. Water could also be seen surging on the river as it rose above the tops of three water intake pipes under the pedestrian bridge on the northeast side of the Techny Loop. 

More rain followed Wednesday evening and into Thursday and all of the water didn’t go unnoticed by Northbrook residents and the . 

In total, the village received 1.64 inches of rain Wednesday between about 8 and 11 a.m., according to Public Works Department General Operations Superintendent Paul Risinger. The most intense rainfall was from 9:00 to 9:15 a.m., when 0.46 inches fell, and from 10:10 to 10:25, when another 0.32 inches came down. 

 “The rapid rate of precipitation combined with the already saturated ground created flash flooding conditions as our sewer systems became inundated," Risinger explained. "Over the past 10 days, Northbrook has received over 3.5 inches of rain."

Most calls to Public Works regarded street and rear yard flooding, with a few residents reporting water in their basements, and crews were assigned to check all locations for blockages. Most calls, however, involved overtaxed sewers where water receded once the rain stopped, including the underpass on Cherry Lane. In advance of the storm, multiple Public Works crews were assigned to patrol the village and clean any inlets that may have had debris, according to Risinger, who said “we also assign street sweepers daily to keep these structures clear in case of heavy storms like yesterday.”

 To those tracking precipitation, it may seem like this May is to rain . However, the rainfall “seems to be well controlled,” stated  Butternut Lane resident Dave Flinn, who commuted to work by car from central Northbrook Thursday morning, and noticed nothing out of the ordinary despite the heavy rains. 

A mid-morning check of the river on Thursday revealed the continuing rain kept the water level high, but the overnight storm had blown an approximately 15-foot branch from a tree down on Walters Avenue, near Church Street, to the parkway below. 

Residents experiencing flooding issues on the street are advised to contact Public Works at 847-272-4711.