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More than a dozen motorists were stranded by heavier than expected rain throughout Chicago Tuesday night<\/p>\n
\u201cWe literally carried some folks out on our backs as firemen waded into the water and got close to cars,\u201d Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said. \u201cSometimes people had gotten out, other times they just didn\u2019t want to get in the water, so they climbed out of the car and we got them.\u201d <\/p>\n
The heaviest rain pummeled a five block radius near the United Center on the Near West Side when five inches fell from 8:55 p.m. to 10:25 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. <\/p>\n
The downpour caused roads to flood, including a viaduct at Ogden and Western avenues that prompted multiple fire department responses to the area. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Near West Side was particularly bad,\u201d Langford added. “[The storm] just kept pouring water in inch after inch.\u201d <\/p>\n
Initially, forecasters projected rainfall totals to be roughly 1-to-2 inches with more falling in local areas. Once meteorologists saw that rain totals were surpassing what was projected, a Flash Flood Warning was issued around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll the storms last night were just slow moving and one just kind of anchored in around the city,\u201d David King, a meteorologist with the weather service said. \u201cIt\u2019s really the rain rate with this thing that was just so incredible [and] that caused flash flooding in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
King urged drivers to turn around when faced with flooded roadways. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always worth the longer commute as opposed to getting stuck in the water,\u201d King said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n