ROCKFORD, IL — A substantial rainfall event is taking shape across Illinois over the next seven days, with the heaviest totals expected across the northern part of the state between September 17 and September 24. Forecasts show Rockford could receive up to 4.4 inches of rain, while Chicago and surrounding communities including DeKalb, Joliet, and Sterling are projected to see totals ranging from roughly 3.6 to 4.1 inches. The highest rain chances are expected to begin this weekend and continue into early next week.
Northern Illinois Faces Heaviest Totals
The 4 to 6 inch rainfall category stretches across much of far northern Illinois, encompassing Galena, Rockford, and Sterling, where forecasters say the combination of multiple rounds of rain over the week-long period could add up quickly. Nearby Quad Cities and Princeton are also positioned within the higher-end rainfall zone, expected to see totals in the 2.9 to 3.6 inch range. The Chicago metro area, along with DeKalb, LaSalle, and Joliet, falls within a similar heavy-rainfall band as the system tracks through the region.
Central Illinois Sees More Moderate Amounts
Moving south into central Illinois, rainfall totals taper off considerably compared to the northern tier of the state. Communities such as Peoria, Pontiac, and Champaign are forecast to receive roughly 0.7 to 1 inch of rain over the seven-day period, while areas around Springfield, Decatur, and Charleston are expected to see even lighter totals in the 0.3 to 0.5 inch range. This marks a sharp contrast from the multi-inch totals anticipated farther north.
Southern Illinois Expected to Stay Driest
The lightest rainfall totals across the state are forecast for far southern Illinois, with communities including Carbondale, Marion, and Paducah expected to see only around 0.1 inch of rain through the seven-day window. St. Louis and nearby Sparta and Mount Vernon are also positioned within the lower rainfall categories, generally receiving less than half an inch as the bulk of the moisture remains concentrated well to the north.
Timing and Impact Heading Into Next Week
Forecasters indicate that the highest rain chances associated with this pattern will begin over the weekend and persist into the early part of next week, meaning the northern Illinois totals could climb further if additional rounds of rain develop as expected. Residents in the Rockford, Chicago, and DeKalb areas should prepare for the potential of localized flooding given the multi-inch rainfall totals projected for that stretch of the state.
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