Skillet Fork at Wayne City water level
River gauge, Skillet Fork, Illinois, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Skillet Fork at Wayne City: the gauge reads 4.06 ft, far below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 4.95 ft, based on 32 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.89 ft below typical. It is 10.94 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.86 ft, a difference of −0.80 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.58 ft – 4.06 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.95 ft0.89 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.52 ft – 6.36 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.86 ft−0.80 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.58 ft – 4.06 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.56 ft – 14.67 ft
- Highest on record
- 26.68 ftMay 8, 1961
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
For reference, flood stage is 15.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 26.68 ft
- This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Large amounts of property damage can be expected. Evacuation of many homes and businesses becomes necessary.
- 15.00 ft
- Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas.
- 4.06 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: 23 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.68 ft | May 8, 1961 |
| 2 | 25.75 ft | May 17, 1990 |
| 3 | 25.57 ft | April 6, 2025 |
| 4 | 25.44 ft | April 6, 2025 |
| 5 | 24.60 ft | November 20, 1985 |
| 6 | 24.08 ft | December 29, 2015 |
| 7 | 23.71 ft | May 18, 1995 |
| 8 | 23.49 ft | November 15, 1993 |
| 9 | 23.29 ft | March 20, 2008 |
| 10 | 22.88 ft | April 28, 2011 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.53 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casey Fork at Mount VernonRiver gauge, Casey Fork | 1.66 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 16 mi |
| Little Wabash River near Golden GateRiver gauge, Little Wabash River | 5.23 ft | Normal | −0.25 ft | 19 mi |
| Little Wabash River below Clay CityRiver gauge, Little Wabash River | 3.85 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 24 mi |
| Rayse Creek near WaltonvilleRiver gauge, Rayse Creek | 1.23 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 26 mi |
| Little Wabash River at Main St at CarmiRiver gauge, Little Wabash River | 3.27 ft | Normal | +0.15 ft | 30 mi |
| Little Wabash River at CarmiRiver gauge, Little Wabash River | 2.34 ft | Normal | +0.14 ft | 31 mi |
| Bonpas Creek at BrownsRiver gauge, Bonpas Creek | 2.66 ft | Normal | −2.62 ft | 33 mi |
| East Fork Kaskaskia River near SandovalRiver gauge, East Fork Kaskaskia River | 2.42 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 36 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Skillet Fork at Wayne City higher than last year?
No, it is 0.80 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.86 ft.
What is flood stage for Skillet Fork at Wayne City?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 10.94 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Skillet Fork at Wayne City in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.95 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.52 ft and 6.36 ft, based on 32 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 Skillet Fork at Wayne City today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 08:00 PM CDT, the water level was 4.06 ft. Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Skillet Fork at Wayne City rising or falling?
Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.66 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Skillet Fork at Wayne City normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:03380500(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.36333, -88.58778(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 | 4.06 ft | 2026-10-18 01:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Skillet Fork at Wayne City (usgs:03380500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/skillet-fork-at-wayne-city
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