Flash Floods Hit Chicago, Boston Amid Extreme Weather

Severe thunderstorms this week triggered widespread flash flooding in both Chicago and Boston, causing highway closures, stranded vehicles, and multiple water rescues. In Boston, over four inches of rain forced the shutdown of Interstate 93 and the Southeast Expressway, trapping drivers and flooding area roads before water levels receded. Chicago experienced its heaviest rainfall since September 2023, with more than five inches falling on the West Side in under two hours, inundating streets and neighborhoods like Garfield Park and Douglass Park. The intense, localized rainfall in both cities strained drainage systems and resulted in numerous flooded basements and viaducts. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms to climate change, which has led to more frequent infrastructure failures and property damage. The incidents follow recent devastating floods in Texas and New Mexico, reflecting a growing trend of extreme weather across the U.S.