Rock River at Latham Park water level

Name: Rock River at Latham Park 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, Rock River, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

5.28ft Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 11:30 AM CDT (36 min ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The gauge at Rock River at Latham Park shows 5.28 ft, above normal for mid-October.

That puts it 0.67 ft above the median of 4.61 ft for mid-October, based on 22 years of readings. It is 3.72 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.18 ft (+1.10 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.95 ft and 6.41 ft.

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

Compared with 22 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 4.61 ft0.67 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 3.67 ft – 5.56 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (22 years of records)
Same day last year: 4.18 ft+1.10 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 4.95 ft – 6.41 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 4.05 ft – 11.80 ft
Highest on record: 14.70 ftMarch 26, 1975

What the stage means on the water

Fast, high water is not the time for casual paddling. Strainers, debris and cold water make an unplanned swim dangerous.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 9.00 ft, still 3.72 ft away.

What happens at each level

21.00 ft: Bauer Parkway is threatened in Machesney Park. Riverside Boulevard is threatened in Loves Park.
18.50 ft: Ralston Road/Latham Road is threatened near the river in Machesney Park. Widespread inundation of structures and roadways reaches up to half mile from the river in Machesney Park.
17.00 ft: Gleasman Road is threatened east of Old River Road north of Machesney Park. Evelyn Avenue and Forest Grove Street are threatened in Loves Park.
16.00 ft: Numerous structures are threatened along Park Ridge Road in Loves Park.
15.50 ft: Park Ridge Road is threatened in Loves Park.
14.50 ft: Numerous residences are threatened along Queen Oaks Drive in Machesney Park.
13.50 ft: Numerous residences are threatened along Ritter Drive, along Ventura Boulevard north of Ralston Road, and along Shore Drive south of Bauer Parkway in Machesney Park. Residences are threatened along Browns Beach Road in north Rockford. Low-lying structures are threatened along Park Ridge Road in Loves Park.
13.00 ft: Ventura Boulevard is threatened north of Ralston Road in Machesney Park.
12.50 ft: Residences threatened along Harbor Oaks Drive north of Machesney Park. Numerous residences are threatened near the river and Shore Drive. Low-lying sections of Rockford Country Club are inundated.
12.00 ft: Low-lying sections of Shorewood Park are inundated in Loves Park.
11.50 ft: Queen Oaks Drive is threatened in Machesney Park. Lower-level of elevated structures threatened along Harbor Lights Court west of Machesney Park. Ritter Drive is threatened north of Baldwin Drive in Machesney Park.
11.00 ft: Low-lying sections of Harbor Oaks Drive are threatened in north Machesney Park. Low-lying residences are threatened along Queen Oaks Drive in Machesney Park. Browns Beach Road is threatened in north Rockford. Lower parking lot of Sportscore One is inundated in north Rockford.
5.28 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: 18 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	14.70 ft	March 26, 1975
2	14.46 ft	March 17, 2019
3	14.30 ft	June 18, 2008
4	13.30 ft	April 23, 1973
5	13.22 ft	October 7, 2018
6	12.91 ft	July 29, 2010
7	12.82 ft	April 22, 2013
8	12.80 ft	February 26, 2018
9	12.55 ft	July 28, 2017
10	12.30 ft	April 3, 1979

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.70 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

18 Sun 64° 39° – Wind 15 mph

19 Mon 67° 40° – Wind 7 mph

20 Tue 66° 42° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 69° 47° – Wind 7 mph

22 Thu 71° 51° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 70° 52° – Wind 11 mph

24 Sat 70° 55° – Wind 17 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:14 AM Sunset 06:09 PM Daylight 10 hr, 55 min First quarter 60%

Map

Other gauges on the Rock River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rock River at WatertownRiver gauge, Rock River	2.37 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	59 mi
Rock River at JeffersonRiver gauge, Rock River	4.77 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	45 mi
Rock River at Fort AtkinsonRiver gauge, Rock River	11.53 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	40 mi
Rock River at NewvilleRiver gauge, Rock River	2.66 ft	Below flood stage	+0.14 ft	32 mi
Rock River at AftonRiver gauge, Rock River	5.44 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	17 mi
Rock River at RocktonRiver gauge, Rock River	5.37 ft	High	+0.11 ft	5.7 mi
Rock River at Auburn St at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River	3.21 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	5.5 mi
Rock River above Dam at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River	2.65 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	7 mi
Rock River at ByronRiver gauge, Rock River	7.13 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	20 mi
Rock River at DixonRiver gauge, Rock River	9.45 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	42 mi
Rock River above Sinnissippi Dam at Rock FallsRiver gauge, Rock River	6.65 ft	Very high	−0.01 ft	51 mi
Rock River at ComoRiver gauge, Rock River	5.26 ft	Below flood stage	+0.13 ft	54 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Pecatonica River near ShirlandRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.22 ft	Normal	+0.04 ft	8 mi
Kishwaukee River near PerryvilleRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	6.32 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	12 mi
Kishwaukee River at BelvidereRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	1.92 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	13 mi
South Branch Kishwaukee River near FairdaleRiver gauge, South Branch Kishwaukee River	2.65 ft	High	−0.07 ft	20 mi
Turtle Creek at Carvers Rock Road near ClintonRiver gauge, Turtle Creek	3.95 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	20 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Rock River at Latham Park compare with last year?

It is 1.10 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.18 ft.

What is flood stage for the Rock River at Latham Park?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 3.72 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Rock River at Latham Park in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4.61 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.67 ft and 5.56 ft, based on 22 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 Rock River at Latham Park today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 11:30 AM CDT, the water level was 5.28 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Rock River at Latham Park rising or falling?

Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rock River at Latham Park normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 22 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:05437610 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.36863, -89.05726 (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	5.28 ft	2026-10-19 16:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rock River at Latham Park (usgs:05437610). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/rock-river-at-latham-park

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