NEW MUNSTER, WIS. Due to the Fox River’s overnight rise beyond flood stage, communities along the river in northeastern Illinois and southeast Wisconsin are under an extended flood warning through Monday morning. The river surpassed the legal flood mark of 11.0 feet, rising to 11.7 feet, according to the Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service.
River Levels and Impacted Communities
Lake County, Illinois, and Kenosha County, Wisconsin, have already seen mild but disruptive flooding as a result of the water surge. Residents and drivers are at risk due to standing water in yards in Salem Lakes and the Town of Wheatland and several inches of water covering parts of 77th Street.
Low-lying yards near Shorewood Drive and Riverside Drive are also experiencing standing water. Even while the flooding is presently considered modest, officials warn that more rains upstream might make things worse before the levels drop.
Early Monday morning, when the Fox River is expected to drop back below flood stage, the flood warning will still be in effect.
Travel Concerns and Public Safety
Officials in charge of emergency management stress the significance of staying off of roads that are covered in water. The majority of flood-related deaths, according to statistics, happen in cars. The caution is especially applicable to rural backroads in Kenosha and Lake counties, where simply a few inches of water can halt an automobile or sweep it off the road.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown is the mantra that local sheriff’s offices are encouraging folks to abide by after receiving reports of stranded automobiles on Saturday morning.
Historical Context
This week’s 11.7-foot crest is one of the greatest late-summer crests in recent memory and ties a high-water mark set in the same location in 2019. After heavy rains upstream, the Fox River has historically seen both seasonal flooding in the spring and sporadic summer rises.
Officials emphasize that although this flood is not as bad as the catastrophic floods of 2008 and 2017, it nevertheless has a big effect on local roadways, small businesses, and houses.
Next Updates and Outlook
Flood warnings are anticipated to stay in effect until the river falls below 11 feet, according to the National Weather Service’s next update, which will be released at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Relief is anticipated each year on Monday morning, barring any additional rainfall, as the present prognosis indicates a gradual reduction.
Although scattered showers are still likely in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, drier weather is predicted for the majority of the weekend. Flooding downstream could be prolonged by any stronger storms that form upstream.
Community Response
Residents are attempting to strengthen property boundaries in Salem Lakes and Wheatland, where local emergency management officials have set up sandbag pickup points. Volunteers have volunteered to help the elderly and residents of areas that are vulnerable to flooding.
Harvesting plans may be delayed if the water persists into next week, as temporary field flooding is being reported in agricultural areas close to the Fox River.
Are you experiencing flooding from the Fox River in Kenosha or Lake County? Post your updates and experiences in the SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com comments section.
