Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenNb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago water level
River gauge, Nb Chicago River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 39.7 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago, where the gauge shows 10.93 ft.
It is 7.07 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 10.78 ft – 14.07 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 10.78 ft – 14.07 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 10.58 ft – 15.47 ft
- Highest on record
- 22.50 ftAugust 14, 1987
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 18.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 27.50 ft
- Structures are threatened at North Park University.
- 26.00 ft
- Low-lying property at North Park University is threatened. Low-lying areas in River Park are threatened.
- 24.00 ft
- Widespread inundation of structures and roadways reaches up to 1 block from the river in the Albany Park neighborhood. Low-lying sections of St. Luke Cemetery are inundated.
- 23.00 ft
- Intersection of Pulaski Road and Foster Avenue is threatened.
- 22.00 ft
- Low-lying sections of Bohemian National Cemetery are inundated.
- 21.00 ft
- Numerous structures and roadways impacted in the Albany Park neighborhood.
- 20.00 ft
- Water begins to impact structures in the Albany Park neighborhood. Foster Avenue is threatened east of Pulaski Road.
- 19.00 ft
- Water may impact the Eugene Field Park foot bridge. Foster Avenue flow diversion tunnel reaches capacity.
- 18.00 ft
- Portions of Eugene Field Park are inundated.
- 17.00 ft
- Trails in Gompers Park are inundated.
- 16.50 ft
- Water impacts low-lying trails in Eugene Field Park.
- 16.00 ft
- Low-lying areas of Gompers Park are inundated.
- 10.93 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: 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.50 ft | August 14, 1987 |
| 2 | 17.90 ft | May 18, 2020 |
| 3 | 17.03 ft | May 22, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Nb Chicago River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at ChicagoRiver gauge, Nb Chicago River | −1.96 ft | Very high | +0.18 ft | 7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch Chicago River at NilesRiver gauge, North Branch Chicago River | 1.01 ft | Low | −0.07 ft | 4.3 mi |
| Des Plaines River at River ForestRiver gauge, Des Plaines River | 4.61 ft | Normal | −0.19 ft | 8 mi |
| Chicago River at Columbus Drive at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago River | −2.12 ft | Normal | +0.20 ft | 8 mi |
| Lake Michigan at Chicago Lock at ChicagoLake, Lake Michigan | 0.33 ft | Normal | +0.37 ft | 9 mi |
| Chicago River at Chicago Lock at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago River | −2.04 ft | Normal | +0.21 ft | 9 mi |
| Des Plaines River at Algonquin Road at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River | 8.79 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 9 mi |
| Addison Creek at BellwoodRiver gauge, Addison Creek | 1.78 ft | High | +0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| Chicago S & South Canal at Western Ave at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago S & South Canal | −2.04 ft | High | +0.13 ft | 10 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 7.07 ft below it.
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 Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 AM CDT, the water level was 10.93 ft. Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago rising or falling?
Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago?
The highest level on record is 22.50 ft on August 14, 1987.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05536085(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.97472, -87.72833(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 | 10.93 ft | 2026-10-20 11:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 39.7 cfs | 2026-10-20 11:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at Chicago (usgs:05536085). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/nb-chicago-river-at-n-pulaski-road-at-chicago
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