Flash flooding has struck three states in rapid succession, with Chicago now facing emergency rescues following a sudden deluge of more than 5 inches of rain in just 90 minutes. The National Weather Service confirmed that a personal weather station near the United Center recorded 5.14 inches during the evening of July 8. Streets on the West Side, including Douglass Park and Homan Square, were inundated. Water rescues were reported at Western and Ogden avenues and Ashland and Kinzie. The rainfall exceeded the city’s monthly average of 4.5 inches, and viaducts, basements, and roadways were overwhelmed. A flash flood warning was issued until 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.
This event follows catastrophic flooding in Texas and New Mexico. In Kerr County, Texas, more than 100 people were killed and over 160 remain missing after the Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4. Camp Mystic, a girls-only summer camp, was devastated. Ten campers and one counselor are still unaccounted for. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Hunt, Texas, calling it a “particularly dangerous situation.” Officials confirmed the flood surpassed the deadly 1987 event and is now the highest on record for the region.
🚨 BREAKING: WATER RESCUES are underway in Chicago as over 5 INCHES of rain have fallen in the past 90 mins, per National Weather Service
This is freaking crazy. pic.twitter.com/zSr9D64mFq
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 9, 2025
BREAKING: Chicago Under Water: Flash Flood Emergency, 5+ Inches of Rain in 90 Minutes pic.twitter.com/eMIyXPOnhX
— TaraBull (@TaraBull) July 9, 2025
In New Mexico, three people died in Ruidoso on July 8, including a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and a man in his 40s or 50s. The Rio Ruidoso rose to 20.24 feet in under 30 minutes, breaking the previous record of 15.86 feet. The area had been destabilized by the South Fork and Salt wildfires in 2024, which left behind burn scars that accelerated runoff. More than 85 swift-water rescues were conducted. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency and activated federal assistance. The region remains under flood watch, with saturated terrain increasing the risk of mudslides.
Meteorologists point to a combination of slow-moving thunderstorms and terrain vulnerability. In all three states, rainfall intensity exceeded historical norms.
Sources
https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/new-mexico-ruidoso-flooding-videos-july-2025