Lombard Acting Village President Bill Ware declared the town a disaster area and advised residents not to travel because of the number of cars stalled in flooded streets.



Glenbard High School District 87 and Lombard Elementary District 44 closed schools Thursday because of the weather.



The weather also forced road closures in suburban Aurora: Farnsworth Avenue between Indian Trail and Mountain Street, Broadway Avenue between Pierce Street and the post office, 75th between Ogden Avenue and Illinois Route 59, and South Eoloa Road between Montgomery Road and 87th Street.



More than 5.1 inches of rain fell in Yorkville in the last 24 hours, according to early reports provided by weather spotters to the National Weather Service. Just less than 4 inches fell in Streator. More than 2.2 inches was recorded in Waukegan and 2.14 inches fell in Aurora.



The Chicago Weather Center reported the following rainfall totals as of 7 a.m.: Wilmette 5.08 inches, Wheaton 4.91 inches, Hillside 4.81 inches, Elmhurst 4.60 inches.



Rain is expected to continue throughout the day, and the Des Plaines River is expected to reach record levels in Des Plaines and Riverside today, according to the weather service.



"It means the river over its banks in a lot of areas. . .when the river reaches its maximum height because of this rainfall event. That's expected to be at levels it hasn't reached before on record at Des Plaines and Riverside," he said. "Record levels."



The weather service said storms are expected to rake the area rain is expected to continue throughout the day, and that tornadoes were possible as far north as Kankakee to the Far South Side.