(Update at 5:15 p.m.) Roads are reopening and stream levels dropping in Deerfield, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Highland Park, according to municipal officials.
Northbound Highway 41 is now open to Highway 176 and southbound from 176, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Bluff Police Department. It remains closed from just north of the 176 exit to Highway 137.
Deerfield
All roads except Woodvale Avenue between Oxford and Warrington Roads are now open, according to a news release from the Village.
Water levels on the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River have decreased by two-feet since this morning, according to the release. The Middle Fork of the North Branch is still over its banks in spots near Deerfield Road.
Storm water is still overflowing into reservoirs which are approximately seventy-five percent full and have remaining capacity. A possible .7 of an inch of rain is possible today and tonight, according to the release citing the Continental Weather service.
Highland Park
Tennyson and Red Oak Lanes are now open but Trailway, Taylor Street west of Beverly and Park Avenue West between Highway 41 and the Target Store remain closed, according to a spokesperson for the Public Works Department.
Lake Forest
All roads are open, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police Department.
Lake Bluff
Green Bay Road at Park Lane is now open. The only road closure is Highway 41 north of Highway 176.
(Update at 12:35 p.m.) The Middle and West Forks of the North Branch of the Chicago River is “overtopping” its banks in some locations throughout Deerfield increasing the flooding potential for roads and residences, according to a release from the Village of Deerfield.
For more details on this part of the story, please see the Deerfield section of the article below.
(Update at 10:50 a.m.) Highway 41 is reopen through Highland Park and Lake Forest but remains closed at Highway 176 in Lake Bluff, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police Department.
(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Flooding has caused road closures in Deerfield, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff while standing water in Highland Park could close streets at a moment’s notice, according to sources from those municipalities.
Deerfield
(Update at 12:35 p.m.) Continuous rainfall has as caused the Middle and West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River to go over its banks in several spots in Deerfield taxing the Village’s storm sewers, according to a news release from the Village.
“Once capacity (of the storm sewers) is reached flooding potential for residential properties and roads is highly increased,” the Village said in the release. “The Village’s Department of Public Works is actively maintaining and monitoring outfalls and retention basins.”
Based on a forecast from the Continental Weather Service, severe thunderstorms are expected in the area after 2 p.m. “We will continue to reassess our needs,” Assistant to the Village Manager Andrew Lichterman said.
Road conditions reported at 8:13 a.m. remain unchanged. Brierhill Road is also closed as well as the south end of Carlisle Avenue and Carriage Way.
Sandbags are available for residents with flooding problem at the Department of Public Works, 465 Elm Street.
(Update at 11:50 a.m.) In preparation for Student Showcase at all four Deerfield Public Schools District 109 elementary schools tonight, parents already have been notified that PTO enrichment and other after-school activities have been cancelled, according to an email from the District.
The Park District's after-school care program will run as usual, according to the school email.
Middle school activities are unchanged.
(Update at 10:50 a.m.) Deerfield Public Library will close at 11:30 a.m. today and repoen during at its normal time Friday, according to an email from spokesperson Jody Wilson.
"The Library will adjust due dates for items returned late due to this emergency closing," Wilson said in the email.
(Update at 10:30 a.m.) Deerfield High School will end classes 1:10 p.m. today, according to Communication Director Natalie Kaplan. Bus service will transport the students home. All after school activities are cancelled.
(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Waukegan Road is down to one lane between Half Day Road and North Avenue with police directing traffic, according to a spokesperson for the Deerfield Department of Public Works. Deerfield High School is open normal hours, according to Communications Director Natalie Kaplan.
North Avenue is closed between Portage Pass and Overland Trail, Carlisle is closed south of Deerfield Road and the 500 block of Hermitage is closed, according to Public Works.
All Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Schools are open normal hours though there is flooding in the parking lot at Caruso Middle School, according to Communications Director Cathy Kedjidjian. People will be present to direct traffic.
Highland Park
Update 11:10 a.m.: All North Shore School District 112 schools are operating normally today, and will end at the regular time, according to the district's website.
The Highland Park Senior Center has canceled the following classes and activities for today, according to the City's website.
• Live on the Links Concert (1:30 p.m.)
• Caregivers Support Group (7 p.m.)
Additionally, the Senior Connecter will be utilizing an abbreviated schedule. Based on road closures, not all stops will be available. Please check with the driver about your specific destination, prior to boarding the bus. For questions regarding the Senior Center programs, call 847-432-4110.
Update at 10:30 a.m.: Highland Park High School will end classes 12:30 p.m. today, according to Communication Director Natalie Kaplan. Bus service will transport the students home. All after school activities are cancelled.
Update 9 a.m.: Several Highland Park streets are impassable, according to a flood alert on the city's website: Park Avenue East of Route 41; Tennyson South of Route 22; Trail Way and neighboring side streets where streets are at the same level as the creek; and Taylor Avenue.
“There is standing water in a lot of places so (there could be flooding) at any time,” a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works said. “We urge people to stay home.”
Highland Park High School is open, according to Kaplan. The website for North Shore School District 112 did not indicate closures or a late start.
All calls concerning flooding (including basement flooding) should be directed to Public Works at 847-432-0807
Lake Forest and Lake Bluff
(Update at 11:50 a.m.) Deerpath Road in Lake Forest is now open, according to the Lake Forest Police Department.
(Update at 10:30 a.m.) Lake Forest High School and District 67 schools have no plans to send students home early at this time and no intention to cancel after school activities, according to a spokesperson for the two districts.
Work is being done to reopen Deerpath Road west of Deer Path Middle School but it remains closed, according to the Lake Forest Police Department.
(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Highway 41 is closed between Westleigh Road and Highway 137, according to spokespersons with the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff Police Departments.
School busses will be running late for both Lake Forest High School and District 67 schools because of flooded streets, according to information on the school websites and an email from Communications Director Anne Whipple.
Parents taking their children to Deer Path Middle School must approach off Green Bay Road, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police. “That’s as far as you can get,” he said referring to the fact Deerpath Road is closed west of the school.
A number of other roads in Lake Forest are closed. “There are too many to count,” the spokesperson said.
In Lake Bluff, Green Bay Road is closed at Park Lane, according to the Police Department.