Flood Warning Issued for Thorn Creek in Cook County Through Thursday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Chicago IL has issued a Flood Warning for Thorn Creek at Thornton. This alert indicates that minor flooding is imminent or occurring within the specified area. The warning was issued early Wednesday morning as river levels are expected to rise significantly.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts Cook County, Illinois. The affected geographic scope includes Thorn Creek from near Glenwood downstream to the confluence with the Little Calumet River, including the area surrounding the Thornton gauge.

What You Should Do

Persons along rivers and streams in the warned area should take immediate precautions to protect life and property. The NWS response recommendation is to avoid the area. Residents should monitor local conditions and be prepared for rising water levels.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the region. As of 1:15 AM CDT Wednesday, the river stage was recorded at 4.4 feet. The river is expected to rise above the flood stage of 9.0 feet late this morning. A crest of 9.9 feet is anticipated this evening.

At the 9.0-foot flood stage, water begins to be diverted through the Thorn Creek Diversion Tunnel. These forecasts are based on observed precipitation as well as forecast precipitation 24 hours into the future.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective from late Wednesday morning, March 11, through Thursday morning, March 12. The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this morning and fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight. The warning is currently scheduled to expire at 7:30 AM CDT on March 12.