Rivers in Illinois
Des Plaines River near Lemont
Below flood stage
9.45ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 6:00 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 10.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 9.60 ftMon, Sep 21, 7:00 PM CDT
- Record crest
- 13.24 ft2020
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 15.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 10.00 ft |
| Action | 9.50 ft |
- 18.50 ftResidences threatened near Bluff Road and Lemont Road.
- 16.00 ftLemont Road threatened north of the river. Flood waters may overflow into the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Lemont.
- 15.00 ftWill County Generating Station property is threatened. Isle a la Cache Museum levee is overtopped.
- 14.00 ftBluff Road is threatened west of Lemont Road.
- 13.50 ftPortions of Centennial Trail near the Romeo Road trailhead are threatened. Flood waters may overflow into the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Romeoville.
- 13.00 ftThe lower parking lot at Isle a la Cache Museum begins to flood.
- 12.50 ftRomeo Road is threatened in Romeoville.
- 11.50 ftVeterans Memorial Trail threatened north of the river at Keepataw Preserve.
- 11.00 ftTrails at the Isle a la Cache Museum are inundated. Water may begin to overflow into the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Willow Springs.
- 10.00 ftLow-lying areas of the Black Partridge Forest Preserve are inundated.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 27% |
| Moderate flooding | 6% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
23 crests on NOAA’s list since 1957.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 18, 2020 | 13.24 ft |
| 2 | April 19, 2013 | 12.58 ft |
| 3 | October 15, 2017 | 12.41 ft |
| 4 | July 14, 1957 | 12.30 ft |
| 5 | September 15, 2008 | 12.20 ft |
| 6 | May 1, 2019 | 11.96 ft |
| 7 | February 21, 2018 | 11.67 ft |
| 8 | July 23, 2017 | 11.52 ft |
| 9 | June 17, 2015 | 11.46 ft |
| 10 | July 24, 2011 | 11.23 ft |
| 11 | June 23, 2018 | 11.20 ft |
| 12 | July 25, 2010 | 11.20 ft |
| 13 | May 1, 2020 | 11.15 ft |
| 14 | May 2, 2017 | 11.05 ft |
| 15 | March 11, 2009 | 11.00 ft |
| 16 | June 27, 2021 | 10.70 ft |
| 17 | April 3, 1960 | 10.70 ft |
| 18 | May 2, 2009 | 10.50 ft |
| 19 | May 27, 2011 | 10.18 ft |
| 20 | February 22, 2014 | 9.75 ft |
| 21 | April 28, 2011 | 9.57 ft |
| 22 | February 22, 2011 | 9.41 ft |
| 23 | January 13, 2014 | 9.03 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 27, 2021: 10.70 ft
- May 18, 2020: 13.24 ft
- May 1, 2020: 11.15 ft
- May 1, 2019: 11.96 ft
- June 23, 2018: 11.20 ft
- February 21, 2018: 11.67 ft
- October 15, 2017: 12.41 ft
- July 23, 2017: 11.52 ft
- May 2, 2017: 11.05 ft
- June 17, 2015: 11.46 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamDes Plaines River at Lyons
- DownstreamDes Plaines River at Joliet
- Long Run at Lemont
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Romeoville
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Lemont
- East Branch Du Page River at Bolingbrook
- Sawmill Creek (IL) at Lemont
- West Branch Du Page River at Naperville
- Du Page River at Plainfield
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Lockport Lock (tailwater)
What this means
Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.