While the range of rainfall resulting from current storm could vary between 0.49 to 2.93 inches, the ensemble predictions of four different models estimate that 1.64 inches of rain could fall in the Chicago area.

The average rainfall that happens during November over this area is 3.15 inches. This means 1.64 inches of rain from Tuesday to Thursday night would constitute around 52 percent of total rainfall in November.

During the day Tuesday, the temperature is expected to be above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, on Wednesday, the temperature could be the range 60s during the morning to 40s in the evening. Thursday will be coldest with temperature being in the 30s.

Late Monday, the storm elating out of the Texas region vented exceedingly powerful thunderstorms across Texas and areas in the north, including Kansas and Missouri. As per Storm Prediction Center of NOAA located in the southwest of Oklahoma, one tornado was reported in the region and hail about two-inch in diameter battered Claude, Texas. Wind gusts of up to 92 mph pounded Burns Flatt, Oklahoma.

The highly potent jet stream of 130 mph is anticipated to boost the atmospheric system that could lead to severe weather across the northern Texas trough the north toward St. Louis region and into the downstate areas of Illinois.

At the same time, the first considerable amount of snow seems to be headed in the direction of the western and upper Midwest. The current storm could bring snow in the areas spreading across eastern Colorado toward the north in Omaha, Nebraska and through Iowa and Wisconsin.

The weather forecast models across continue to predict high latitude blocking, indicating that cold will descend over the Midwest.

Several storms are expected to pass through the area starting from Monday night through Wednesday evening. Heavy rainfall is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday in Chicago and adjacent areas.

Rain is expected to fall this morning throughout the southeastern regions of the city and will steadily spread across the city by the evening or night. Conditions could be cold enough to get a rain and snow on Wednesday night.

A state of emergency was declared in Des Plaines on Saturday by Mayor Marty Moylan. While most of the streets in the city remained open Sunday, according to Fire Captain Scott Peirson, Des Plaines, the city maintained Golf Road connecting Oakton Community College and East River Road remained closed for most of the day. There were also some stranded vehicles on certain roads.

Scott Peirson stated that residents should not walk through standing water as it may not only lead to contamination, but one could also fall into the open manholes or get dragged into a current and drown. He advised that firefighters should keep the sticks in front of them while walking through the floodwaters to find open manholes or sewers.
Sandbags and sand were placed at Christ Church at Cora Street and Henry Avenue, Big Bend Drive, Hawthorne Lane, Howard Avenue and River Road.

Residents were advised to put the items damaged by flooding and the flood debris along the curbs for pickup. Home and Business owners were asked to check the drains of their roofs for blockages. Any blockage should be removed to avoid accumulation of water on roofs.

Randy Uidl, Mount Prospect’s Fire Battalion Chief, said that many basements were flooded by sewer backup and retention ponds were full. Residents were seen taking out the items, such as carpets, couches and mattresses, damaged by sewage water from their basements to their front lawns. Residents will get help from the city authorities for disposing of their contaminated items and debris. ARC is going to provide unlimited pickup facility from Monday.

Elk Grove Village’s Fire Battalion Chief William Sellers stated that several roads were closed on Sunday, including Rev. Morrison Boulevard and Elk Grove Boulevard. Sellers also stated that the Salt Creek Bridge, which was closed on Saturday because of the standing water, has been reopened after the water receded.

After the weekend storms that hit Chicago, the Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has declared 12 counties as disaster areas. Quinn stated that several communities incurred damages because of the storms. He said that about 125,000 sandbags have been dispatched to Henderson County. The other disaster areas include Cook, Carroll, Lee, Jo Daviess, DuPage, Ogle, Mercer, Rock Island, Winnebago, Whiteside and Stephenson.

According to the officials in Cicero, a west Chicago suburb, the minimum damage to homes because of Saturday and Sunday storms is estimated to be $12 million.

The city is just returning to normal after several days of heavy rain caused flooding on city and suburban streets. The swollen waterways south of the Windy City didn’t fare that much better either, unable to absorb more than six inches of rain that fell between Wednesday and late Thursday. In addition to the water, the severe storms also knocked out the power for hundreds of thousands of customers.

Looking at the bright side, some in Chicago remarked that the storms had a positive effect in bringing an end to the city’s stifling heat wave felt earlier in the week. Wednesday’s high of 95 at O’Hare was just a couple of degrees shy of the record, while other cities registered 97 and 99. All of this seems quite out of the ordinary for this part of the world – yet it isn’t.

History clearly shows us that weather patterns are cyclical. In fact, they are so much so that each cycle in North America lasts a predictable thirty years or so. In other words, over the course of three decades, weather tends to worsen on all fronts, until it bottoms out and stays at that level for a few years. Things then gradually improve over the next thirty years until it tops out on the other end. That’s why so many adults at either end remember drastically different weather during their youth.

What’s being experienced today in Chicago and its suburbs many of us remember from days gone by. This is nothing to panic over, as Chicken Little did, because the sky is indeed not falling. While it is certainly a tragedy that people are losing their homes, and in some case their lives, it does not portend the end of the world.

In Chicago, they will clean up the mess left by the water; they will have their power restored in due time. And this summer there will be plenty a baseball fan at Wrigley with only baseball on his mind – because we Americans are resilient. A little heat and water are not going to keep us down forever.

Even in Joplin and other places hit hardest by this year’s spring weather will rebuild. Just like New Orleans; just like South Florida and Southern California have done so many times. So whether it’s flood waters or heat – take your pick – we will overcome. We will indeed overcome.

Mold gets into your home as tiny spores. These spores require moisture in order to grow, digest and destroy. Mold can grow on nearly any surface such as wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paint, carpeting, rock and insulation. Mold grows especially well when it is provided with a lot of moisture from high levels of humidity, floods or leaking roofs and basement foundations.

Molds can be very dangerous to your health. Black mold in particular is a major health hazard. Mold spores are released into the air whenever mold is disturbed. You and your family can be exposed to these harmful molds simply by breathing the air containing the mold spores. Exposure can also occur by touching mold-infested items, eating food containing mold or by accidental hand-to-mouth contact.

People with asthma or allergies are more sensitive to molds. Some people break out in rashes, have runny noses, itchy eyes, cough incessantly or have a difficult time breathing when exposed to mold. A few molds produce mycotoxins and when people are exposed to these toxins they can suffer with more serious ailments such as nausea, fatigue and lung irritation. It is therefore highly advisable to contact your doctor if you think that you are being exposed to mold. Do not wait until your symptoms become severe. Mold exposure is something that must be taken very seriously. It is also recommended that you contact your local health department so that an inspection of your home can be arranged. Special mold kits are used to collect and analyze the mold to determine its type.

The source of the mold must be identified. Quite often mold grows around duct work and plumbing, in crawl spaces, behind walls and in attics. It can go undetected for months before that musty, telltale smell of mold is present. There are mold eradication companies in operation today that can be called in to find the source of the mold, kill it and ensure that it never gets a chance to grow again. These companies are experts when it comes to mold. They can tell you exactly the type of mold you are dealing with, how they will go about getting rid of it and will also tell you if you can remain living in your home while the eradication is taking place.

Consider buying a home mold test kit. This is a good thing to have on hand so that you can test your home for the presence of mold every year or so. Consider it just as important as having smoke alarms in your home as mold poses a great threat to you and your family much like smoke or fire.

Quinn said that many of his state residents are reeling from the damage. He also stated that over 125,000 sand bags have been sent to folks in Henderson County. Illinois residents who were affected by the widespread flooding are being told that they can find an online flood cleanup guide online that was posted by the American Red Cross.

The severe storms that hit the Windy City over the weekend flooded streets, filled viaducts and sent rain seeping into tunnels across the city. In Westchester and Cicero, many homeowners reported waist deep water in their homes while others reported having up to ten feet of standing water to deal with. Westchester officials are holding a special meeting Tuesday (July 27) at 6 p.m. to declare an official state of emergency for the badly affected village. The Red Cross provided residents there with a dry place to sleep, rest and eat. There were flood damage assessment vans and trucks seen throughout many of the flood ravaged areas on Sunday, as residents are trying to come to grips with what has happened and to begin the cleanup process as quickly as possible.

The City of Chicago is thankful for their local chapter of the Red Cross as it is beginning to distribute clean-up kits which contain brooms, rubber gloves, mops as well as cleaning and disinfectant solutions at no cost to those in need. Officials in Westchester are warning its residents to be aware of scam artists that show up during times of disaster. People who may be posing as relief workers or repair companies could very well arrive on the scene and take advantage of vulnerable and tired residents. They also mentioned that no one should pay anyone up front and that any work promised to be done should be put in writing in the form of a formal contract. The topic is to be discussed at this evening’s meeting.

Chicagoland’s weather forecast is not all that promising following the recent storma as another line of thunderstorms may move into the area on Wednesday and then again over the coming weekend. Affected residents all across northern and central Illinois are being urged to take great caution when working in or near flood water as there are many hidden dangers that should be taken very seriously.