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Rock River at Byron water level

River gauge, Rock River, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

7.14ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
6,480 cfs
Water temperature
58 °F
5 10 15 Highest onrecord 17.80 ft Minor floodstage 13.00 ft

History

581013ftOct 11Oct 12Oct 14Oct 15Oct 17Minor flood stage581013ftOct 11Oct 14Oct 17Minor flood stage
581013ftSep 18Sep 25Oct 2Oct 10Oct 17Minor flood stage581013ftSep 18Oct 2Oct 17Minor flood stage
51015ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage51015ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
51015ftJanMarMayJulSepNov202651015ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Rock River at Byron, where the gauge shows 7.14 ft.

That puts it 1.11 ft above the median of 6.03 ft for mid-October, based on 26 years of readings. It is 5.86 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.61 ft (+1.53 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 5.90 ft – 9.21 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 58 °F.

Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
6.03 ft1.11 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
4.69 ft – 9.41 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (26 years of records)
Same day last year
5.61 ft+1.53 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
5.90 ft – 9.21 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
5.30 ft – 15.02 ft
Highest on record
17.80 ftApril 20, 1973

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 13.00 ft.

What happens at each level

17.00 ft
Water threatens structures at the water treatment plant in Byron.
16.50 ft
Numerous residences are threatened between IL-2 and the river just northeast of Byron. River Road is threatened near the river just south of Byron.
16.00 ft
The MercyHealth Clinic is threatened along Kysor Drive in Byron.
15.50 ft
Water threatens lower sections of the water treatment plant property in Byron. Water threatens IL-2 west of Byron.
13.50 ft
Numerous low-lying structures downstream of Byron are flooded.
13.00 ft
Low-lying structures downstream of Byron are threatened.
12.00 ft
Water inundates yards of several houses along River Road near Byron. Low-lying portions of Hamas Park and Sunshine Park are inundated.
10.50 ft
Water begins to affect low-lying areas along the river near Byron.
7.14 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 11 %.

RankLevelDate
117.80 ftApril 20, 1973
217.08 ftApril 20, 2013
316.64 ftMarch 16, 2019
416.50 ftJuly 25, 2010
516.12 ftJune 14, 2000
615.67 ftOctober 8, 2018
715.52 ftAugust 25, 2007
815.38 ftJuly 22, 2017
915.15 ftFebruary 22, 2018
1015.00 ftMarch 25, 1975

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 1.10 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 52° 34° – Wind 10 mph
18 Sun 59° 37° – Wind 14 mph
19 Mon 65° 44° – Wind 8 mph
20 Tue 67° 47° – Wind 6 mph
21 Wed 68° 49° – Wind 9 mph
22 Thu 67° 54° – Wind 6 mph
23 Fri 71° 53° – Wind 11 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:12 AM Sunset 06:14 PM Daylight 11 hr, 1 min First quarter 42%

Map

Other gauges on the Rock River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Rock River at JeffersonRiver gauge, Rock River 4.82 ft Below flood stage −0.12 ft 65 mi
Rock River at Fort AtkinsonRiver gauge, Rock River 11.65 ft Below flood stage −0.10 ft 60 mi
Rock River at NewvilleRiver gauge, Rock River 2.81 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 50 mi
Rock River at AftonRiver gauge, Rock River 5.65 ft Below flood stage +0.07 ft 35 mi
Rock River at RocktonRiver gauge, Rock River 5.33 ft High +0.02 ft 25 mi
Rock River at Latham ParkRiver gauge, Rock River 5.38 ft Normal +0.35 ft 20 mi
Rock River at Auburn St at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River 3.28 ft Normal +0.51 ft 15 mi
Rock River above Dam at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River 2.70 ft High +0.55 ft 13 mi
Rock River at DixonRiver gauge, Rock River 9.46 ft Normal −0.14 ft 23 mi
Rock River above Sinnissippi Dam at Rock FallsRiver gauge, Rock River 6.71 ft Very high −0.06 ft 32 mi
Rock River at ComoRiver gauge, Rock River 5.27 ft Below flood stage +0.02 ft 35 mi
Rock River near JoslinRiver gauge, Rock River 7.43 ft High +0.15 ft 62 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Kishwaukee River near PerryvilleRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River 6.51 ft Normal +0.12 ft 14 mi
South Branch Kishwaukee River near FairdaleRiver gauge, South Branch Kishwaukee River 2.83 ft High +0.14 ft 18 mi
Kishwaukee River at BelvidereRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River 2.11 ft Normal +0.03 ft 22 mi
Pecatonica River at FreeportRiver gauge, Pecatonica River 5.84 ft Normal +0.31 ft 22 mi
Pecatonica River near ShirlandRiver gauge, Pecatonica River 6.09 ft Normal +0.13 ft 22 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Rock River at Byron compare with last year?

It is 1.53 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.61 ft.

What is flood stage for the Rock River at Byron?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 5.86 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Rock River at Byron in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6.03 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.69 ft and 9.41 ft, based on 26 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 Rock River at Byron today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 09:15 AM CDT, the water level was 7.14 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Rock River at Byron rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.46 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rock River at Byron normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:05440700 (Agency page)
Coordinates
42.12219, -89.25536 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 7.14 ft 2026-10-17 14:15 Provisional
Flow 6,480 cfs 2026-10-17 14:15 Provisional
Water temperature 58 °F 2026-10-17 14:15 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rock River at Byron (usgs:05440700). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/rock-river-at-byron

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