Above / Back on June 15, 2015, the Century Walk sculpture of Dick Tracy was knee-high in water along the rising bank of the DuPage River near the Naperville Township Building. By May 2017, the bronze sculpture with identifying plaque had been moved to higher ground where the world’s most recognizable crime fighter continues to attract visitors every day who visit the Riverwalk. (PN File Photo)
July 6, 2026, PN Report
According to the U.S. National Weather Service Chicago, “Incredible rainfall amounts fell in a roughly 48 hour period from around 7PM July 2 through 7PM July 4 across portions of northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana.”
Four separate rounds of severe storms caused “the heaviest rain fall roughly between Interstates 80 and 88,” where there were widespread totals in excess of 4 inches and as much as 8 inches. The big green bucket on our back deck collected 3.5 inches for two days in a row.
Early notifications of all that heavy rain led to numerous cancellations of Independence Day evening activities such as the Naperville Municipal Band Concert in the Wagner Pavilion behind the 95th Street Library and annual fireworks in Frontier Park.
What’s more, all that rain in such a short period of time led to considerable flash flooding and rapid rises in area rivers, including the DuPage River that winds through Naperville.
Though the rain had ended by late afternoon on July 4, 2026, many roads and sidewalks throughout town were impassable all the way through Sunday.
Thanks to everybody who paid attention to caution tape and other signs that alerted the community of high water along the DuPage River, local retention ponds and roads.
Help educate youth to always respect the power of water as both a life-sustaining force (Hydropower is a renewable resource that harnesses the kinetic and potential energy of moving water.) as well as an unstoppable destructive agent via flash flooding.
Flash floods are not a time or place to play. Failing to recognize the physical force of rushing water and environmental impact can lead to devastating consequences like fatalities, destructive flooding, structural erosion and ecological disruptions.
Flash flooding with swift currents can be life-threatening. Remind youngsters never to play in it. Just six inches of rushing water can knock adults off their feet, while 12 to 24 inches can sweep away most vehicles.
A more complete listing of regional rainfall totals is available here: https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=lot.
To respond to some folks who were “speculating” the cause of the storms as a surprising recent occurrence, we recalled many years of high waters via a PN FB post…
Flash floods and high water are nothing new here, contrary to the speculation, blame & queries we’ve been receiving. Flooded basements, water up over the Riverwalk & the banks of retention ponds might not be common, but when we checked PN’s photo files, pictures showed flooding in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 & then some. We also found we’d saved an old newspaper from July 19, 1996!
July 4 & 5, 2026 / A few photos from West Wind to Countryside to downtown Naperville…
Respect rising water. Also, remember to empty standing rain water that’s been collected in containers and puddles around your house to help prevent growth of the mosquito population. Female mosquitoes require stagnant water to lay their eggs. Stay safe.
