Tyler Creek at Elgin water level

Name: Tyler Creek at Elgin 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, Tyler Creek, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

5.81ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 17, 2026, 08:45 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 15.5 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

Tyler Creek at Elgin is at 5.81 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

That puts it 0.26 ft above the median of 5.55 ft for mid-October, based on 26 years of readings. It is 2.19 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.57 ft (+0.24 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.74 ft and 6.71 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

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

Key numbers

Median for this date: 5.55 ft0.26 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 5.13 ft – 6.15 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (26 years of records)
Same day last year: 5.57 ft+0.24 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 5.74 ft – 6.71 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.38 ft – 8.32 ft
Highest on record: 9.44 ftMay 17, 2020

Floating and fishing near Tyler Creek at Elgin

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 8.00 ft, 2.19 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

18.00 ft: IL-31 (State Street) may be threatened at the creek in Elgin.
16.50 ft: Davis Road threatened at IL-31 (State Street) in Elgin.
14.50 ft: Big Timber Road is threatened east of the creek in Elgin.
13.50 ft: Residences threatened near the creek at Garden Crescent Drive in Elgin.
13.00 ft: A few residences may be threatened along Hoxie Avenue and Sexauer Avenue in Elgin. Parking lots and structures threatened at Tyler Creek Preserve.
12.50 ft: Garden Crescent Drive threatened in Elgin.
12.00 ft: Wing Park Aquatic Center threatened in Elgin. Wing Street/McLean Boulevard threatened in Elgin.
11.00 ft: Structures threatened at Judson University in Elgin. Numerous residences may be threatened along Park Drive and Deborah Avenue near Royal Boulevard in Elgin.
10.00 ft: Parking lots threatened at Judson University in Elgin.
9.50 ft: Industrial structures threatened off Illinois Parkway in Elgin.
9.00 ft: Royal Boulevard may be threatened in Elgin. Water overtops low-lying banks at Judson University in Elgin.
8.50 ft: Athletic fields may be inundated at Eagle Heights Park in Elgin.
5.81 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	9.44 ft	May 17, 2020
2	9.30 ft	May 15, 2020
3	9.17 ft	July 12, 2017
4	8.74 ft	August 24, 2007
5	8.62 ft	April 18, 2013
6	8.57 ft	May 13, 2010
7	8.53 ft	September 13, 2008
8	8.48 ft	June 27, 2018
9	8.26 ft	August 22, 2002
10	8.23 ft	June 13, 1999

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 1.66 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 56° 36° – Wind 9 mph

18 Sun 59° 39° – Wind 13 mph

19 Mon 63° 37° – Wind 7 mph

20 Tue 66° 47° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 65° 48° – Wind 7 mph

22 Thu 69° 52° – Wind 5 mph

23 Fri 68° 52° – Wind 9 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:10 AM Sunset 06:08 PM Daylight 10 hr, 59 min First quarter 45%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Poplar Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Poplar Creek	1.42 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	3.4 mi
Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River	6.88 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	4.3 mi
Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River	12.84 ft	Normal	±0	4.3 mi
Fox River (Tailwater) at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater)	6.54 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	7 mi
Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River	1.75 ft	High	−0.02 ft	7 mi
Ferson Creek near St. CharlesRiver gauge, Ferson Creek	1.97 ft	Below flood stage	−0.18 ft	9 mi
West Branch Du Page River near West ChicagoRiver gauge, West Branch Du Page River	4.11 ft	Normal	−0.23 ft	12 mi
Salt Creek at Rolling MeadowsRiver gauge, Salt Creek	2.47 ft	Normal	−0.12 ft	15 mi

Questions and answers

How does Tyler Creek at Elgin compare with last year?

It is 0.24 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.57 ft.

What is flood stage for Tyler Creek at Elgin?

The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 2.19 ft below it.

What is a normal level for Tyler Creek at Elgin in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 5.55 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 5.13 ft and 6.15 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 Tyler Creek at Elgin today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 08:45 PM CDT, the water level was 5.81 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Tyler Creek at Elgin rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.08 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Tyler Creek at Elgin 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:05550300 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.05867, -88.30407 (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	5.81 ft	2026-10-18 01:45	Provisional
Flow	15.5 cfs	2026-10-18 01:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Tyler Creek at Elgin (usgs:05550300). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/tyler-creek-at-elgin

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