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Des Plaines River near Des Plaines water level

River gauge, Des Plaines River, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

9.29ft Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
143 cfs
0 10 20 Highest onrecord 20.92 ft Minor floodstage 15.00 ft

History

-051015ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 17Oct 18Minor flood stage-051015ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18Minor flood stage
-051015ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 11Oct 18Minor flood stage-051015ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18Minor flood stage
-051015ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage-051015ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
-051015ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026-051015ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

The Des Plaines River near Des Plaines is above normal at 9.29 ft.

That puts it 8.22 ft above the median of 1.07 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 5.71 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 7.96 ft (+1.33 ft).

It has dropped 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 9.28 ft and 13.45 ft.

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

Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.07 ft8.22 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
0.79 ft – 11.00 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year
7.96 ft+1.33 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
9.28 ft – 13.45 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
7.73 ft – 17.96 ft
Highest on record
20.92 ftApril 19, 2013

Floating and fishing near Des Plaines River near Des Plaines

Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.

Flood stage here is 15.00 ft, 5.71 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

22.50 ft
Structures threatened at Chicago Executive Airport in Prospect Heights.
21.50 ft
Taxiways and runways threatened at Chicago Executive Airport in Prospect Heights.
21.00 ft
Inundation of structures and roadways reaches up to 1 block from the river in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, and Prospect Heights. Milwaukee Avenue threatened at Palatine Road in Prospect Heights. Algonquin Road threatened east of the river in Des Plaines.
20.00 ft
Water reaches the top of the floodwall along Miner Street causing numerous structures and roadways to be threatened near Miner Street and Busse Highway in Des Plaines. Structures threatened along Prairie Avenue near South River Road in Des Plaines.
18.50 ft
Big Bend Road threatened in Des Plaines.
17.00 ft
Central Road and Golf Road are threatened in Des Plaines.
15.00 ft
Structures threatened at Methodist Campground in Des Plaines. Forest preserve roadways are threatened.
14.00 ft
Low-lying Methodist Campground property and forest preserve property threatened near Des Plaines.
13.00 ft
Camp Ground Road and Des Plaines River Trail threatened near Miner Street in Des Plaines.
12.00 ft
Low-lying sections of the Des Plaines River Trail threatened near Des Plaines.
9.29 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: 16 %.

RankLevelDate
120.92 ftApril 19, 2013
220.88 ftOctober 1, 1986
320.00 ftSeptember 14, 2008
419.92 ftJuly 14, 2017
519.77 ftMay 18, 2020
618.77 ftAugust 14, 1987
718.67 ftMay 21, 1996
818.62 ftAugust 2, 2007
918.56 ftApril 2, 1960
1018.51 ftMay 27, 2004

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.13 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

18 Sun 60° 40° – Wind 13 mph
19 Mon 66° 39° – Wind 6 mph
20 Tue 68° 52° – Wind 7 mph
21 Wed 69° 53° – Wind 6 mph
22 Thu 71° 56° – Wind 6 mph
23 Fri 65° 58° – Wind 10 mph
24 Sat 71° 58° – Wind 12 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:08 AM Sunset 06:07 PM Daylight 10 hr, 59 min First quarter 53%

Map

Other gauges on the Des Plaines River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Des Plaines River at RussellRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 4.65 ft High −0.08 ft 28 mi
Des Plaines River near GurneeRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 3.00 ft Normal −0.05 ft 18 mi
Des Plaines River at LincolnshireRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 7.57 ft Normal −0.06 ft 8 mi
Des Plaines River at Algonquin Road at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 8.93 ft Normal −0.12 ft 3.9 mi
Des Plaines River at River ForestRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 4.89 ft Normal −0.35 ft 14 mi
Des Plaines River at RiversideRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 2.62 ft Normal −0.28 ft 19 mi
Des Plaines River at LyonsRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 11.11 ft Normal −0.57 ft 20 mi
Des Plaines River near LemontRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 6.41 ft Normal −0.48 ft 30 mi
Des Plaines River at Route 53 at JolietRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 538.97 ft Normal ±0 39 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Mc Donald Creek near Mount ProspectRiver gauge, Mc Donald Creek 0.96 ft Normal −0.08 ft 1.4 mi
Weller Creek at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Weller Creek 0.75 ft Normal −0.04 ft 3.1 mi
Wf of Nb Chicago River at NorthbrookRiver gauge, Wf of Nb Chicago River 1.00 ft Normal −0.03 ft 4.4 mi
North Branch Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, North Branch Chicago River 4.49 ft Normal −0.17 ft 5.7 mi
Wf of Nb Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, Wf of Nb Chicago River 7.24 ft Normal −0.04 ft 5.7 mi
Buffalo Creek near WheelingRiver gauge, Buffalo Creek 1.69 ft Normal +0.06 ft 5.8 mi
Skokie River near Highland ParkRiver gauge, Skokie River 2.74 ft Very low −0.09 ft 7 mi
Salt Creek at Rolling MeadowsRiver gauge, Salt Creek 2.39 ft Low −0.09 ft 7 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Des Plaines River near Des Plaines compare with last year?

It is 1.33 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 7.96 ft.

What is flood stage for the Des Plaines River near Des Plaines?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 5.71 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Des Plaines River near Des Plaines in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.07 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.79 ft and 11.00 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 Des Plaines River near Des Plaines today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 04:45 PM CDT, the water level was 9.29 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Des Plaines River near Des Plaines rising or falling?

Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.04 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Des Plaines River near Des Plaines normal?

High 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:05529000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
42.08722, -87.88722 (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 9.29 ft 2026-10-18 21:45 Provisional
Flow 143 cfs 2026-10-18 21:45 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Des Plaines River near Des Plaines (usgs:05529000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/des-plaines-river-near-des-plaines

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