Flash flood watch canceled for Chicago area

The National Weather Service canceled its flash flood watch for the Chicago area Thursday morning.

The watch was canceled after the “threat of very heavy rainfall and flash flooding” had diminished, according to an alert issued by the weather service shortly before 4 a.m.

The flash flood watch was originally in effect through Thursday afternoon after thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall into the region Wednesday night.

The warning came as communities continued to clean up the damage from Monday’s storms, which spawned nine tornadoes across northern Illinois.

Portions of the Iroquois, Kankakee and Illinois rivers are at flood stage already because of recent rains, and “minor to moderate flooding” will continue in those areas Thursday morning, the weather service said.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue early Thursday, with chances for precipitation decreasing in the afternoon, according to the weather service. Highs could reach the mid-70s to low 80s.

Friday will see a slight chance of showers in the afternoon, Saturday will be mostly sunny and thunderstorms will be possible again Sunday afternoon into Sunday night, according to the weather service.