Sangamon River at Monticello water level
River gauge, Sangamon River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 47.2 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Sangamon River at Monticello reads 5.06 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 4.40 ft, based on 33 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.66 ft above typical. It is 7.94 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 3.32 ft, a difference of +1.74 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 5.06 ft and 6.54 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.40 ft0.66 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.85 ft – 10.37 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.32 ft+1.74 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.06 ft – 6.54 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.12 ft – 17.15 ft
- Highest on record
- 19.06 ftApril 13, 1994
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 13.00 ft, still 7.94 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
- Damage begins in Monticello.
- 13.00 ft
- Flooding of agricultural areas begins.
- 5.06 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: 35 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.06 ft | April 13, 1994 |
| 2 | 18.79 ft | June 4, 2008 |
| 3 | 18.56 ft | December 29, 2015 |
| 4 | 18.55 ft | May 16, 1968 |
| 5 | 18.50 ft | October 4, 1926 |
| 6 | 17.88 ft | February 6, 2008 |
| 7 | 17.77 ft | January 15, 2005 |
| 8 | 17.71 ft | December 31, 1990 |
| 9 | 17.70 ft | March 25, 1913 |
| 10 | 17.67 ft | May 18, 1943 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.84 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Sangamon River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangamon River at FisherRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.69 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 24 mi |
| Sangamon River at Route 48 at DecaturRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 2.12 ft | Low | −0.12 ft | 25 mi |
| Sangamon River at RivertonRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 2.54 ft | Low | +0.12 ft | 52 mi |
| Sangamon River near SpringfieldRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 21.20 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 55 mi |
| Sangamon River at PetersburgRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.48 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 66 mi |
| Sangamon River near OakfordRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 3.47 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 74 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek near Farmer CityRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 689.76 ft | Normal | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Copper Slough at ChampaignRiver gauge, Copper Slough | 9.92 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 16 mi |
| Lake Fork at AtwoodRiver gauge, Lake Fork | 2.98 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Clinton Lake near LaneRiver gauge, Clinton Lake | 689.66 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| North Fork Salt Creek near De WittRiver gauge, North Fork Salt Creek | 691.06 ft | Normal | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Boneyard Creek below 6th Street at ChampaignRiver gauge, Boneyard Creek | 11.39 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Kaskaskia River Inflow at FicklinRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River Inflow | 7.09 ft | Very low | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Boneyard Creek at UrbanaRiver gauge, Boneyard Creek | 10.25 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Sangamon River at Monticello higher than last year?
Yes, it is 1.74 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.32 ft.
What is flood stage for the Sangamon River at Monticello?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 7.94 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Sangamon River at Monticello in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.40 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.85 ft and 10.37 ft, based on 33 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 Sangamon River at Monticello today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 01:00 AM CDT, the water level was 5.06 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Sangamon River at Monticello rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.14 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sangamon River at Monticello normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 33 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:05572000(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.03117, -88.58917(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 | 5.06 ft | 2026-10-18 06:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 47.2 cfs | 2026-10-18 06:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sangamon River at Monticello (usgs:05572000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/sangamon-river-at-monticello
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