Rivers and flooding in Illinois
251 river gauges the National Weather Service watches in Illinois. Each has its forecast, flood stages and impacts, and its crest history.
Flood outlook
Significant river flooding over the next five days, and each gauge’s chance of flooding over the next three months.
Significant river flooding is likely in Illinois through September 25.
Weather conditions indicate that significant flooding can be expected during the outlook period.
Most likely to flood, September to November
- La Moine River at Colmar18% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River near Havana10% chance of major flooding
- La Moine River at Ripley11% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River at Morris11% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River at Beardstown9% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River near La Salle10% chance of major flooding
- Skillet Fork River at Wayne City9% chance of major flooding
- Des Plaines River at Riverside9% chance of major flooding
- Rock River at Moline8% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River at Ottawa7% chance of major flooding
- Illinois River near Henry20% chance of moderate flooding
- Mackinaw River near Congerville20% chance of moderate flooding
79 of the 89 gauges the River Forecast Centers forecast in Illinois have a stated chance of flooding in this period.
Addison Creek
Apple River
Aux Sable Creek
Big Bureau Creek
Big Muddy River
Big Muddy River Subimpoundment
Blackberry Creek
Boneyard Creek
Bonpas Creek
Boone Creek
Buffalo Creek (IL)
Butterfield Creek
Cache River (IL)
Calumet Union Drainage Canal
Casey Fork
Casey Fork Subimpoundment
Chicago River
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Chicago (Western Ave)Below flood stage
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at LemontBelow flood stage
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Lockport Lock (tailwater)Below flood stage
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at RomeovilleReading out of date
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at StickneyBelow flood stage
Copper Slough
Crab Orchard Creek
Deer Creek
Des Plaines River
- Des Plaines River at Brandon Road Lock (tailwater)Below flood stage
- Des Plaines River at Des PlainesBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)Below flood stage
- Des Plaines River at GurneeBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at JolietBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at LemontBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at LincolnshireBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at LyonsBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at River ForestBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at RiversideBelow flood stage
- Des Plaines River at RussellBelow flood stage
Du Page River
East Branch Du Page River
Edwards River
Elkhorn Creek (IL)
Embarras River (IL)
Farm Creek
Ferson Creek
Flag Creek
Fondulac Creek
Fox River
- Fox River at AlgonquinBelow flood stage
- Fox River at Algonquin tailwaterBelow flood stage
- Fox River at AntiochBelow flood stage
- Fox River at DaytonBelow flood stage
- Fox River at ElginBelow flood stage
- Fox River at Fox LakeBelow flood stage
- Fox River at JohnsburgBelow flood stage
- Fox River at Lake VillaBelow flood stage
- Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwaterBelow flood stage
- Fox River at MontgomeryBelow flood stage
- Fox River at South Elgin DamBelow flood stage
- Fox River at Yorkville (Palmer Dam)Below flood stage
Grassy Creek (IL)
Green River (IL)
Henderson Creek
Hickory Creek
Illinois River
- Illinois River at BeardstownBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at ChillicotheNo flood stages set
- Illinois River at Copperas CreekNo flood stages set
- Illinois River at Dresden Lock (tailwater)Below flood stage
- Illinois River at HardinBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at HavanaBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at HenryBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at Kingston MinesNo flood stages set
- Illinois River at La SalleBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at LaGrange Lock and DamBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at MarseillesBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at Marseilles Lock (tailwater)Below flood stage
- Illinois River at MeredosiaBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at MorrisBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at OttawaBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at PeoriaBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at Peoria Lock and DamBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at SenecaBelow flood stage
- Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater)Below flood stage
- Illinois River at Valley CityBelow flood stage
Indian Creek (IL)
Iroquois River
Kankakee River
Kaskaskia River
- Kaskaskia River at CarlyleBelow flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at Carlyle Dam TailwaterBelow flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at Carlyle Lake Dam (pool)Below flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at ChestervilleOut of service
- Kaskaskia River at Cooks MillsNo flood stages set
- Kaskaskia River at CowdenBelow flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at FicklinNo flood stages set
- Kaskaskia River at New AthensBelow flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at ShelbyvilleBelow flood stage
- Kaskaskia River at VandaliaBelow flood stage
Kickapoo Creek
Kishwaukee River
Kress Creek
La Moine River
Lake Fork (Central IL)
Lake Fork (E-IL)
Lake Michigan
Lansing Ditch
Little Calumet River
Little Grassy Creek
Little Kickapoo Creek
Little Wabash River
Long Run
Lusk Creek
Mackinaw River
Mainstream Deep Tunnel
Mazon River
McDonald Creek
Middle Fork Saline River
Middle Fork Vermilion River
Midlothian Creek
Mill Creek (IL)
Mississippi River
- Mississippi River at AltonBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at ChesterBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at FultonBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at GladstoneBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at GraftonBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at Grand TowerBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at Illinois CityBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at KeithsburgBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at Mozier LandingNo flood stages set
- Mississippi River at New BostonBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at QuincyBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21Below flood stage
- Mississippi River at Rock IslandBelow flood stage
- Mississippi River at ThebesBelow flood stage
Natalie Creek
Nippersink Creek
North Branch Chicago River
North Fork Embarras River
North Fork Salt Creek (IL)
North Fork Vermilion River
Ohio River
Pecatonica River
Plum Creek (IL)
Pope Creek
Poplar Creek
Rayse Creek
Robinson Creek (IL)
Rock River
- Rock River at ByronBelow flood stage
- Rock River at ComoBelow flood stage
- Rock River at DixonBelow flood stage
- Rock River at JoslinBelow flood stage
- Rock River at Latham ParkBelow flood stage
- Rock River at MolineBelow flood stage
- Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street)Below flood stage
- Rock River at Rockford (Fordam Dam)Below flood stage
- Rock River at RocktonBelow flood stage
Saline Branch
Salt Creek (IL)
- Salt Creek (IL) at Elk Grove VillageBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at ElmhurstBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at Elmhurst (Quarry Diversion)Out of service
- Salt Creek (IL) at Farmer CityNo flood stages set
- Salt Creek (IL) at GreenviewBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at Oak BrookBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at Rolling MeadowsBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at RowellBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at Western SpringsBelow flood stage
- Salt Creek (IL) at Wood DaleBelow flood stage
Salt Fork (IL)
Sangamon River
- Sangamon River at ChandlervilleBelow flood stage
- Sangamon River at DecaturNo flood stages set
- Sangamon River at FisherNo flood stages set
- Sangamon River at MonticelloBelow flood stage
- Sangamon River at OakfordBelow flood stage
- Sangamon River at PetersburgBelow flood stage
- Sangamon River at RivertonBelow flood stage
- Sangamon River at SpringfieldNo flood stages set
Sawmill Creek (IL)
Silver Creek
Sinsinawa River
Skillet Fork River
Skokie River
South Branch Kishwaukee River
South Fork Saline River
South Fork Sangamon River
Spoon River (E-IL)
Spoon River (W-IL)
Spring Brook
Spring Creek (IL)
St. Joseph Creek (IL)
Stony Creek
Sugar Creek (E-IL)
Sugar Creek (Central IL)
Sugar Creek (W-Central IL)
Summit Conduit
Thorn Creek
Tinley Creek
Tyler Creek
Vermilion River
Vermilion River (E-IL)
Vermilion River (N-IL)
Wabash River
Waubonse Creek
Weller Creek
West Branch Du Page River
- West Branch Du Page River at NapervilleBelow flood stage
- West Branch Du Page River at Naperville (Fawell Dam)Reading out of date
- West Branch Du Page River at Naperville (Webster St)Out of service
- West Branch Du Page River at WarrenvilleBelow flood stage
- West Branch Du Page River at West ChicagoBelow flood stage
West Fork North Branch Chicago River
West Okaw River
Whitley Creek
Sources
Gauges, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow from the U.S. Geological Survey.