Fox River at Johnsburg water level
River gauge, Fox River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The Fox River at Johnsburg is at 4.09 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 0.02 ft above the median of 4.07 ft for mid-October, based on 37 years of readings. It is 2.41 ft below the flood stage of 6.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.99 ft (+0.10 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.96 ft and 4.92 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 37 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.07 ft0.02 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.86 ft – 4.43 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (37 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.99 ft+0.10 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.96 ft – 4.92 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.28 ft – 7.02 ft
- Highest on record
- 8.90 ftJuly 4, 1938
Floating and fishing near Fox River at Johnsburg
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 6.50 ft, 2.41 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 4.50 ft
- Fox Waterway Agency considers "no wake" order for the Fox River from Stratton Dam to Pistakee Lake.
- 4.09 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.90 ft | July 4, 1938 |
| 2 | 7.55 ft | April 6, 1960 |
| 3 | 7.47 ft | April 22, 2013 |
| 4 | 7.37 ft | July 17, 2017 |
| 5 | 7.10 ft | October 3, 1986 |
| 6 | 7.07 ft | April 2, 1979 |
| 7 | 6.65 ft | April 23, 1993 |
| 8 | 6.50 ft | June 18, 2008 |
| 9 | 6.48 ft | March 11, 1974 |
| 10 | 6.39 ft | August 27, 2007 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Fox River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River at PrincetonRiver gauge, Fox River | 5.07 ft | Below flood stage | +0.06 ft | 111 mi |
| Fox River at WaukeshaRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 43 mi |
| Fox River at Waterford Dam, at WaterfordRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.64 ft | Low | ±0 | 27 mi |
| Fox River at RochesterRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.33 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 25 mi |
| Fox River near New MunsterRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.11 ft | Below flood stage | +0.28 ft | 16 mi |
| Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.98 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 4.6 mi |
| Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.77 ft | High | +0.07 ft | 15 mi |
| Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.86 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 26 mi |
| Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River | 6.86 ft | Normal | ±0 | 26 mi |
| Fox River at MontgomeryRiver gauge, Fox River | 11.77 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 45 mi |
| Fox River at YorkvilleRiver gauge, Fox River | 13.01 ft | Normal | −0.12 ft | 52 mi |
| Fox River at DaytonRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.71 ft | High | +0.39 ft | 74 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippersink Lake at Fox LakeLake, Nippersink Lake | 4.12 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 3.3 mi |
| Nippersink Creek near Spring GroveRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 4.89 ft | High | −0.03 ft | 4.7 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 2.12 ft | Normal | +0.08 ft | 4.7 mi |
| Boone Creek near Mc HenryRiver gauge, Boone Creek | 1.22 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 5.5 mi |
| Fox Lake near Lake VillaLake, Fox Lake | 4.14 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 6 mi |
| Nippersink Creek above Wonder LakeRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 5.21 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 7 mi |
| Channel Lake near AntiochLake, Channel Lake | 4.17 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 8 mi |
| Elizabeth Lake at Twin LakesLake, Elizabeth Lake | 794.09 ft | Very high | +0.01 ft | 9 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Fox River at Johnsburg compare with last year?
It is 0.10 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.99 ft.
What is flood stage for the Fox River at Johnsburg?
The official flood stage is 6.50 ft. The level is currently 2.41 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Fox River at Johnsburg in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.07 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.86 ft and 4.43 ft, based on 37 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 Fox River at Johnsburg today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 03:45 AM CDT, the water level was 4.09 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Fox River at Johnsburg rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Fox River at Johnsburg normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 37 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:05548500(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.37633, -88.23674(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 | 4.09 ft | 2026-10-17 08:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River at Johnsburg (usgs:05548500). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/fox-river-at-johnsburg
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