Flood warnings, weather put Riot Fest into temporary rain delay on final day

Chicago saw more than 5 inches of rainfall Sunday and a flash flood warning was in effect until 9 a.m. Monday in parts of the city and surrounding areas, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather was enough to send the Douglass Park-based Riot Fest into a rain delay on the third and final day of the festival, though gates opened at 2 p.m. for a slightly altered schedule.

The agency said the far South Side of the city was most at risk for flash flooding, along with Blue Island and Calumet City, Indiana, and it advised drivers in the area not to drive through flood waters, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

The weather bureau added that creeks, streams, drainage ditches, low-lying areas and poor drainage areas were at the highest risk for floods, but that highways, streets and underpasses also could be affected.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications didn’t report any street closures due to the weather Sunday morning.

The Van Buren Street Metra station took on water on its lower level, but the station remained open and crews worked to clear the water, a Metra spokesperson said.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

A beach hazard statement was also put into effect, with 3-to-6-foot waves expected to be hitting the shores of Lake Michigan through Monday morning.

Record-setting rainfall in June and July caused President Joe Biden to declare Cook County a disaster area, which opened up federal funds to help cover losses caused by flooding. More than 12,000 flooded basement reports were made to 311 after record rainfall in early July.

A recent WBEZ report showed that FEMA’s maps depicting “high-risk” flood areas are inaccurate, with about 172,000 Cook County properties having a high risk of flooding, 79,000 of which are in the city proper.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times