{"id":593265,"date":"2026-04-19T07:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T07:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593265\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T07:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T07:53:15","slug":"major-flooding-throughout-lake-and-mchenry-counties-after-third-round-of-thunderstorms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593265\/","title":{"rendered":"Major flooding throughout Lake and McHenry counties after third round of thunderstorms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0171-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108927 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0171-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>A third round of thunderstorms Friday evening caused major flooding on the east side of Gurnee, including Old Grand Avenue, Kilbourne Road and part of Route 132. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>Severe thunderstorms rolled through Lake and McHenry counties for the third time this week, prompting tornado warnings and bringing heavy rainfall that caused major flooding throughout both counties.<\/p>\n<p>Friday\u2019s storms marked the third round of thunderstorms this week, with the first round on Tuesday and the second round on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The storms came from the west and entered McHenry County beginning around 7:30 p.m. Friday and Lake County at around 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0016-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108931 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0016-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Part of the northbound lanes of Route 45 at Washington Street in Third Lake were flooded late Friday evening. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>Severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings were issued for both counties, with radar-indicated rotation moving along the northern halves of both counties.<\/p>\n<p>In McHenry County, the storm containing rotation passed through the Harvard, Alden and Wonder Lake areas.<\/p>\n<p>Storm spotters reported seeing a funnel cloud moving along Route 173, according to radio traffic.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0023-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108933 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0023-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Heavy rainfall late Friday evening and early Saturday morning caused flooding at Grand Avenue and Vineyard Drive in Gurnee. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>The McHenry County Emergency Management Agency (MCEMA) also received a report of debris in the air near Route 173 and White Oaks Road, which is west of Harvard.<\/p>\n<p>NWS survey crews have not yet confirmed whether a tornado or tornadoes touched down in McHenry County.<\/p>\n<p>Power outages were also reported as the storm made its way east.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0003-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108930 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0003-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Washington Street west of Hainesville Road on the border of Hainesville and Round Lake Park was flooded on Saturday. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>At Cary Road and Deerpath Road in Algonquin, a tree reportedly hit a power line and fell into the roadway, causing traffic to stop.<\/p>\n<p>A tree was also downed at Harmony Road and Harmony Hill Road in Marengo.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy rainfall exacerbated flooding concerns for towns along the Fox River and Des Plaines River, like Algonquin and Gurnee.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0126-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108941 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0126-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Gurnee public works crews set up barricades Saturday afternoon to shut down Grand Avenue at the Des Plaines River due to major flooding. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>Algonquin village officials distributed sandbags at Beach Drive and Rattray Drive; Center Street and La Fox River Drive; Filip Street; Cornish Park; and Oceola Drive and Hubbard Street to combat flooding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe river is currently at 11.18 feet and is expected to crest at 11.8 feet by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22,\u201d the Algonquin Police Department said Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0121-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108940 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0121-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Flooding from the Des Plaines River caused a significant amount of water on roadways and towards homes near Gowe Park in Gurnee. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>The Fox River from the Illinois-Wisconsin border all the way to Kendall County was closed to boaters due to unsafe conditions.<\/p>\n<p>The Chain O\u2019Lakes in northwestern Lake County was also closed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDue to significant rainfall and continued water flow into the watershed, water levels across the Chain O\u2019Lakes and Fox River are rising and are expected to reach moderate to major flood levels,\u201d the Lake County Sheriff\u2019s Office Marine Unit said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0097-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108938 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0097-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Flooding blocked access to and from Gurnee Fire Station #1 located at 4580 Old Grand Avenue on Saturday. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>In Libertyville, the intersection of Route 21 and Route 176 was flooded Friday evening due to heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n<p>Several neighborhood streets in Grandwood Park were flooded.<\/p>\n<p>The east side of Gurnee also saw heavy flooding due to its proximity to the Des Plaines River, combined with lower-elevation areas.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0149-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108943 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0149-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Esper Petersen Park, located off Kilbourne Road in Gurnee, was flooded after three rounds of thunderstorms this week. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>Old Grand Avenue between Grand Avenue and O\u2019Plaine Road and Kilbourne Road between Grand Avenue and Route 41 were closed on Saturday due to water.<\/p>\n<p>Grand Avenue and Vineyard Drive in Gurnee, Peterson Road west of Route 45 in Libertyville, Route 59 from Route 22 to Scott Road in North Barrington, and Washington Street west of Hainesville Road in Round Lake Park also saw flooding.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0194-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108945 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0194-1-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>One of the entrances to the Elysian Fields subdivision at Grand Avenue and Vineyard Drive in Gurnee was flooded on Friday and Saturday. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>At around 3:50 p.m. Saturday, a car reportedly became submerged in a ditch on North Stanton Point Road in Ingleside, but all the occupants were already out of the car when emergency responders arrived.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNearly two inches of rain fell in some areas, adding to already saturated ground conditions and rising water levels,\u201d Lake County officials said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWater levels along the Des Plaines River are expected to peak between Saturday and Sunday before gradually receding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0136-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" height=\"600\" width=\"900\" data-lazy- data-lazy- class=\"wp-image-108942 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WSS_0136-scaled.jpg\"\/> <\/a>Grand Avenue between Milwaukee Avenue and O\u2019Plaine Road in Gurnee was shut down on Saturday due to flooding from the Des Plaines River. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim \/ Lake and McHenry County Scanner<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlood concerns continue for the Fox River and Chain O\u2019Lakes as water flows downstream from Wisconsin and additional rainfall moves through the region, increasing levels into next week. Areas near downtown Fox Lake and surrounding properties could see additional flooding,\u201d officials said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs of Saturday morning, much of the water has receded, but some roads may still have significant water on the pavement. Never drive through flooded roadways. Turn around, don\u2019t drown.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile clearer weather is expected next week, helping water levels recede, flooding can still occur in any area where rainfall exceeds the ground\u2019s ability to absorb it. Residents should remain alert, especially those in flood-prone areas,\u201d officials added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A third round of thunderstorms Friday evening caused major flooding on the east side of Gurnee, including Old&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":593266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,258728,258729,24483,1023,1679,220188,258730,14059,61547,3,46393,25049,136574,21,19,22,20,25,24,258731],"class_list":["post-593265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-america","tag-chain-o-lakes","tag-des-plaines-river","tag-flood","tag-flooding","tag-floods","tag-fox-river","tag-ilwx","tag-lake-county","tag-mchenry-county","tag-news","tag-severe-thunderstorm-warning","tag-severe-weather","tag-tornado-warning","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa","tag-wx"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=593265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/593266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=593265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=593265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=593265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}