Hinsdale's Fourth of July Parade stepped off on schedule Saturday morning at Burlington Park, but the village didn't escape the holiday weekend unscathed. The same storm system that flooded the DuPage River and canceled fireworks across the western suburbs dumped inches of rain on DuPage County, and more is on the way.
The National Weather Service called the rainfall from Thursday, July 2, through Saturday, July 4, "incredible." The heaviest totals fell between Interstate 80 and Interstate 88, with some communities recording more than 8 inches. Nearby Lombard saw 5.61 inches. Woodridge recorded 5.02 inches. No Hinsdale-specific total has been reported, but the village sits in the same DuPage County corridor.
The storms canceled or postponed fireworks shows in Oak Brook, Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, and Woodridge, among others. Aurora rescheduled its show to Friday, July 10. In Naperville, the DuPage River overflowed its banks and flooded the Riverwalk. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources closed both branches of the river indefinitely to boaters due to swift currents and floating debris.
It's not the first weather disruption this summer. Village President Greg Hart canceled the June 11 Uniquely Thursdays concert citing severe weather.
Dry days, then Thursday storms
The National Weather Service expects sunny skies Wednesday, July 8, with a high near 86, followed by a shift Thursday, July 9: a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. and a high near 87. Friday, July 10, carries another chance of storms after 1 p.m. with a high near 82.
National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Kluber offered a cautious note for northern Illinois residents. "We could see some heavy rain with this," Kluber said. "There's still some indication that maybe the substantial amount of this rainfall is closer to central Illinois versus northern Illinois."
Hinsdale week ahead
- Thursday, July 9 — Uniquely Thursdays summer concert series, downtown Hinsdale. Watch for weather updates from the Village of Hinsdale given the forecast.
- Friday, July 10 — Teen Take-Home Craft: Origami Basket pickup begins, Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St. Pick up kits at the Youth Services desk through July 19. Registration required; limited spots remain.
- Mondays — Hinsdale Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chicago Avenue between Garfield and Washington streets.
The Hinsdale Public Library's Space Improvement Project is underway at 20 E. Maple St. and expected to wrap up this fall. Construction noise and limited room availability may affect visits. For Hinsdale Community House programming at 415 W. 8th St., check thecommunityhouse.org.
