Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont water level

Name: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Illinois, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

25.38ft Up 0.15 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 11:17 AM CDT (39 min ago)

Flow: 563 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

High water at Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont: the latest reading is 25.38 ft, well above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 25.11 ft, based on 21 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.27 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 25.21 ft, a difference of +0.17 ft.

It is on the way up, by 0.15 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. The 30-day range is 23.91 ft – 25.75 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 21 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 25.11 ft0.27 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 24.75 ft – 25.35 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (21 years of records)
Same day last year: 25.21 ft+0.17 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 23.91 ft – 25.75 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 23.48 ft – 25.76 ft

Staying safe in high water

Flood stage is only the first threshold. Above it the National Weather Service sets moderate and major flood stages, and the forecast crest tells you which of those the river is expected to reach.

Upstream gauges on the same river usually show a rise first, which is a useful early warning.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 68° 43° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 67° 42° – Wind 5 mph

22 Thu 70° 53° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 71° 52° – Wind 8 mph

24 Sat 70° 52° – Wind 11 mph

25 Sun 71° 55° – Wind 8 mph

26 Mon 69° 43° 0.10 in Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:10 AM Sunset 06:04 PM Daylight 10 hr, 54 min Waxing gibbous 70%

Map

Other gauges on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at StickneyRiver gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal	−2.11 ft	High	+0.10 ft	14 mi
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at LemontRiver gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal	25.17 ft	Normal	+0.11 ft	2.1 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Sawmill Creek near LemontRiver gauge, Sawmill Creek	8.40 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	1.1 mi
Des Plaines River near LemontRiver gauge, Des Plaines River	6.08 ft	Normal	−0.17 ft	3.6 mi
Long Run near LemontRiver gauge, Long Run	1.00 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	3.8 mi
Flag Creek near Willow SpringsRiver gauge, Flag Creek	3.33 ft	Normal	+0.09 ft	4.8 mi
East Branch Du Page River at BolingbrookRiver gauge, East Branch Du Page River	14.90 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	5.8 mi
Stony Creek (West) near WorthRiver gauge, Stony Creek (West)	25.46 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	7 mi
West Branch Du Page River near NapervilleRiver gauge, West Branch Du Page River	4.46 ft	Low	−0.04 ft	9 mi
East Branch Dupage River at Short St at LisleRiver gauge, East Branch Dupage River	5.61 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	9 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.17 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 25.21 ft.

What is a normal level for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 25.11 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 24.75 ft and 25.35 ft, based on 21 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 11:17 AM CDT, the water level was 25.38 ft. Up 0.15 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont rising or falling?

Up 0.15 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 21 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:05536890 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.69117, -87.96378 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	25.38 ft	2026-10-20 16:17	Provisional
Flow	563 cfs	2026-10-20 16:17	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont (usgs:05536890). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/chicago-sanitary-and-ship-canal-near-lemont

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer