Areas of Chicagoland Face Significant Rainfall Stemming from Subtropical Storm Alberto

Significant flooding was caused in several suburbs surrounding Chicago

May 31, 2018

Several towns in the Chicagoland area found themselves inundated with heavy rainfall on May 30, 2018. The torrential rains caused flooding in several areas and were sourced from the remnants of Subtropical Storm Alberto, which was recently downgraded to a subtropical depression.

The rainfall put the Chicago area over the edge, breaking the all-time record for rainfall in May. Several flood warnings were initiated resulting from the rainfall. O’Hare International Airport had already seen 7.64 in. of rainfall throughout May, marking the third-wettest May on record even before the significant rain showers yesterday.

Flooded streets were reported in several suburbs, including Elgin, Aurora, Oswego and Sleepy Hollow. Alberto, which made landfall in Florida on Monday, merged with another system coming in from the northwest, creating ripe conditions for the amount of rain seen yesterday.

The previous records for the wettest May in the Chicago area were in 1883 and 1945, when it saw 7.32 in. and 7.59 in. of rainfall, respectively. Average rainfall for the month of May is ordinarily 3.68 in.