Flooding Impacts Homes and Roads in Chicago Suburbs

High water levels in the Fox and Des Plaines rivers force evacuations and road closures in Lake County

Apr. 20, 2026 at 1:48am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a flooded suburban neighborhood along the banks of a swollen river, with the floodwaters dwarfing any physical structures or objects caught within the scene. The dramatic, melancholic composition uses deep perspective and dramatic lighting to convey the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural disaster.The rising floodwaters of the Des Plaines and Fox Rivers overwhelm suburban neighborhoods, underscoring the growing threat of severe weather events in the Chicago area.Lincolnshire Today

Heavy rainfall has led to rising river levels in the Chicago suburbs, with the Des Plaines and Fox rivers reaching major flood stages. Residents in Lincolnshire and other communities are dealing with floodwaters encroaching on homes and roads, prompting evacuations and closures. Officials say dry weather this week should provide some relief, but the rivers are expected to crest at historic levels in the coming days.

Why it matters

Recurring flooding events in the Chicago area highlight the need for improved infrastructure and flood mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable communities. As climate change brings more extreme weather, managing the impact on residential areas and transportation networks will be an ongoing challenge for local authorities.

The details

Floodwaters from the Des Plaines and Fox rivers have been rising for days, with some areas seeing water levels reach up to a foot and a half. Homeowners in Lincolnshire and other affected communities have been working to move water away from their properties. Officials say the Des Plaines River could reach major flood stage and peak on Monday, while the Fox River is expected to reach historic flood levels in the coming days.

  • On Sunday night, the area experienced Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories as temperatures dropped into the 20s.
  • Floodwaters have been impacting homes and roads in the area for several days.
  • The Des Plaines River is expected to reach major flood stage and peak on Monday.
  • The Fox River is possibly days away from reaching historic flood levels.

The players

Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

The government agency responsible for managing stormwater and flood control in Lake County, Illinois.

Sandy Didewig

A resident of Lincolnshire, Illinois whose home is located near the rising floodwaters.

Chris Nielsen

A resident of Lincolnshire, Illinois who observed the floodwaters reaching high levels.

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What they’re saying

“We've watched it come up to the barricades here a couple of days ago, and then it went back and now it's coming back again and they say it's going to rise even more because of the rains up north, up in Wisconsin.”

— Sandy Didewig, Lincolnshire Resident

“The top of the fire hydrant over there was pretty much submerged all the way to the top of the fire hydrant. So I saw some carp swimming around.”

— Chris Nielsen, Lincolnshire Resident

What’s next

Officials in Nunda Township are calling for volunteers to help make sandbags starting at 7 a.m. on Monday to help prepare for the expected historic flood levels on the Fox River.

The takeaway

The recurring flooding events in the Chicago suburbs highlight the need for improved infrastructure and flood mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable communities. As climate change brings more extreme weather, managing the impact on residential areas and transportation networks will be an ongoing challenge for local authorities.