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SwedenFox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin water level
River gauge, Fox River (Tailwater), Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 1,230 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin, where the gauge shows 6.35 ft.
That puts it 0.98 ft above the median of 5.37 ft for mid-October, based on 17 years of readings. It is 3.15 ft below the flood stage of 9.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.81 ft (+1.54 ft).
It is still going down, by 0.17 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 6.24 ft – 8.76 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.37 ft0.98 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.57 ft – 9.78 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.81 ft+1.54 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 6.24 ft – 8.76 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.40 ft – 12.08 ft
- Highest on record
- 14.00 ftJuly 5, 1938
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 9.50 ft.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- Inundation of the floodplain reaches more than 1 block from the river in Algonquin. Prairie Trail may be threatened near the river in Algonquin.
- 17.50 ft
- Main Street is threatened in Algonquin.
- 16.50 ft
- IL-176 threatened near Holiday Hills.
- 16.00 ft
- Numerous structures are threatened along Main Street in Algonquin. North Water Reclamation Facility property in Elgin is threatened.
- 15.50 ft
- Algonquin Road (IL-62) is threatened west of the river in Algonquin.
- 15.00 ft
- Inundation reaches up to 2 blocks from the river in Willow Lake Estates in Elgin. Railroad tracks are threatened in downtown Elgin. Multiple structures threatened in downtown Carpentersville. Duncan Avenue threatened north of Elgin.
- 14.50 ft
- Widespread inundation of roadways and structures reaches 2 blocks from the river near Freeman Park north of downtown East Dundee. A few structures threatened along 1st Street in West Dundee.
- 14.00 ft
- Residences threatened along Riverview Drive and Holiday Drive in Holiday Hills. Residences threatened along Riverside Drive West south of McHenry. Structures threatened along North Harrison Street in Algonquin. A few structures threatened along Washington Street in Carpentersville. Algonquin Wastewater Treatment Facility property threatened. Main Street threatened in Carpentersville.
- 13.50 ft
- Backwater causes Crystal Creek to threaten structures near the village hall in Algonquin. Multiple structures threatened along Wenholz Avenue, Michigan Avenue, North Street, Barrington Avenue, and 2nd Street in East Dundee.
- 13.00 ft
- A few structures threatened along Water Street in East Dundee. A few structures threatened along 2nd Street in West Dundee. Structures along Riverside Drive and Grove Ave are threatened in Elgin. Backwater causes Crystal Creek to threaten low-lying sections of Towne Park in Algonquin.
- 12.50 ft
- Residences threatened along Edwards Avenue in East Dundee. Parking lots threatened in downtown Carpentersville. Low-lying parking lots threatened at Judson College in Elgin.
- 12.00 ft
- Structures threatened along River Street, Johnson Street, and Maiden Lane in East Dundee. North Harrison Street threatened near Riverside Park in Algonquin. Washington Street threatened in Carpentersville. Water Street, Edwards Avenue, and Elgin Avenue threatened in East Dundee. Bayview Road threatened in Elgin. Low-lying areas of Festival Park are threatened in Elgin.
- 6.35 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: 31 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14.00 ft | July 5, 1938 |
| 2 | 13.70 ft | April 6, 1960 |
| 3 | 13.18 ft | July 23, 2017 |
| 4 | 12.70 ft | April 23, 2013 |
| 5 | 12.50 ft | March 24, 1948 |
| 6 | 12.40 ft | March 31, 1962 |
| 7 | 11.85 ft | June 26, 2018 |
| 8 | 11.83 ft | May 23, 2020 |
| 9 | 11.38 ft | September 17, 2019 |
| 10 | 11.01 ft | June 26, 2013 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.31 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 Fox River (Tailwater)
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River (Tailwater) near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 1.90 ft | Normal | −0.13 ft | 10 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.70 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 0.4 mi |
| Tyler Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Tyler Creek | 5.77 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 7 mi |
| Poplar Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Poplar Creek | 1.35 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 10 mi |
| Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.84 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| Boone Creek near Mc HenryRiver gauge, Boone Creek | 1.14 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 11 mi |
| Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River | 6.86 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 11 mi |
| Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.78 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 11 mi |
| Fox River at JohnsburgRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.89 ft | Low | −0.05 ft | 15 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin compare with last year?
It is 1.54 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.81 ft.
What is flood stage for the Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin?
The official flood stage is 9.50 ft. The level is currently 3.15 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.37 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.57 ft and 9.78 ft, based on 17 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 (Tailwater) at Algonquin today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 04:30 PM CDT, the water level was 6.35 ft. Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin rising or falling?
Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.72 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 17 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:05550001(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.16194, -88.29389(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 | 6.35 ft | 2026-10-18 21:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,230 cfs | 2026-10-18 21:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River (Tailwater) at Algonquin (usgs:05550001). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/fox-river-tailwater-at-algonquin
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