Vermilion River at Pontiac

1. 22.00 ftPontiac water treatment plant is threatened. IL-116 is threatened at the river in Pontiac.
2. 21.00 ftWidespread inundation of the floodplain south of downtown Pontiac floods reaches up to 5 blocks from the river.
3. 20.00 ftLincoln Elementary School is threatened in Pontiac.
4. 19.00 ftNumerous residences threatened along Water Street north of the river in Pontiac. Widespread inundation of the floodplain south of downtown Pontiac reaches up to 2 blocks from the river. Residences along Mockingbird Lane and Meadowlark Drive are threatened in Fairway View west of Pontiac. Utility structures are threatened in Pontiac. Livingston County 4-H Park is threatened northwest of Pontiac.
5. 18.50 ftMockingbird Lane and Meadowlark Drive are threatened in Fairway View west of Pontiac.
6. 18.00 ftIL-116 is threatened east of Pontiac. Inundation of Humiston-Riverside Park reaches Water Street north of the river in Pontiac.
7. 17.00 ftNumerous residences threatened along Grove Street south of the river in Pontiac. Washington Elementary School is threatened in Pontiac.
8. 16.50 ftLow-lying residences threatened along the river between Mill Street and Chataqua Park. Low-lying sections of Southside Cemetery are inundated in Pontiac.
9. 15.00 ftLow-lying sections of Pontiac Golf Course are inundated.
10. 14.00 ftWidespread areas of Chatauqua Park are inundated in Pontiac.
11. 13.00 ftPark Street is threatened in Pontiac. Low-lying sections of Chautauqua Park are inundated in Pontiac.
12. 12.00 ftLow-lying sections of Humiston-Riverside Park are inundated in Pontiac.
13. 10.00 ftLow-lying sections of Play Park are inundated in Pontiac.
14. 8.00 ftTrails along the river in Humiston-Riverside Park are threatened in Pontiac.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• May 19, 2020: 16.66 ft
• April 30, 2020: 13.92 ft
• January 12, 2020: 13.80 ft
• May 2, 2019: 17.16 ft
• June 22, 2018: 13.87 ft
• February 22, 2018: 15.68 ft
• December 29, 2015: 17.27 ft
• July 12, 2015: 14.59 ft
• February 22, 2014: 12.51 ft
• June 1, 2013: 15.04 ft

• DownstreamVermilion River (N-IL) at Leonore
• Illinois River at Seneca
• Illinois River at Marseilles
• Mazon River at Coal City
• Illinois River at Marseilles Lock (tailwater)
• Illinois River at Ottawa
• Illinois River at Morris
• Sugar Creek (Central IL) at Bloomington

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.

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.