Severe thunderstorms brought flash flooding to the Chicago metropolitan area on Friday afternoon, July 25, with some locations receiving over 150 mm (6 inches) of rainfall in under two hours.
Chicago Midway International Airport recorded 38 mm (1.5 inches) of rain in just 37 minutes. Within 90 minutes, the total had reached 70 mm (2.77 inches). A ground stop was issued at Midway, and both Midway and O’Hare International Airports experienced delays to inbound and outbound flights.
This storm is flooding 55 just before 1st Avenue, heading into the city. Drive safe y’all! #Chicago #weather @WGNNews @ABC7Chicago pic.twitter.com/03RYgYMmec
— Sophie Sanchez 🚀🔬📰 (@chitownchica) July 25, 2025
In Bridgeview, more than 150 mm (6 inches) of rain fell in less than two hours, overwhelming storm drains and flooding streets. Located in one of the lowest elevation zones in the Chicago area, Bridgeview is particularly vulnerable to flooding.
On Western Avenue, between 76th and 74th Streets, water levels rose so high that some drivers were forced to use the sidewalk to pass through the viaduct. At 58th and Harlem, knee-deep water inundated the entire block. Flooding was also reported under the viaduct at 47th and Archer.
One report indicated a person became trapped in a vehicle within a flooded viaduct, requiring the vehicle to be towed.
“There are many reports of flooded viaducts generally along and south of Interstate 55 due to all the rain that fell in the past few hours. If you encounter one of them, DO NOT drive into the water. Your car WILL get stuck,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
The residential area near Daley College at Hamlin and 75th Street was also flooded. Residents stated that while storms on the previous night, July 24, caused some damage, Friday’s storms were significantly worse.
“At least yesterday it wasn’t flooding. Now it’s flooding,” Denise Cerna told CBS. “We’re doing everything. The whole basement is flooded. We’ve been mopping for two hours. From the outside, there’s water coming in.”
In Summit, floodwaters inundated the basements of multiple homes. One family reported waist-deep water that displaced their newly installed washer and dryer.
South side of Chicago flooding. Midway Airport are: I’ve lived in this area 90% of my life and this is as bad as it gets. Not a super flood prone area so this is very impressive. pic.twitter.com/PGFmM8xNqo
— Adam Lucio 🌪️ (@AdamLucioWX) July 25, 2025
The family contacted Illinois Restoration Services for immediate cleanup. Company president Jim Sharp said they received numerous calls by Friday afternoon.
“We are getting a lot of calls for flooded basements. A lot of people lost power, their sump pumps went out,” he said.
Sharp added that all 30 employees had completed more than a dozen service calls in the area by late Friday, pumping out basements, replacing sump pumps, and setting up fans and dehumidifiers. The company expected additional calls into Saturday as floodwaters continued to recede.
