Suburban authorities warned residents that several streets were submerged in water after a torrential rainfall and to avoid traveling on Wednesday. The entire Chicago area is under a flood watch through 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, with rainfall rates of 1-to-2 inches per hour possible. While a flood risk is present particularly in low-lying roadways and in parking lots, there is also a potential for flash flooding of creeks, streams and rivers, according to officials. The greatest threat for flash flooding is along and south of I-80, especially in the Kankakee River valley. #chicago #floodwarning #severeweather #flood #flooding