South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale water level

Name: South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale 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, South Branch Kishwaukee River, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

2.59ft Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 08:45 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 153 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale is above normal at 2.59 ft.

That puts it 0.35 ft above the median of 2.24 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 6.41 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.23 ft (+0.36 ft).

It has dropped 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.51 ft and 5.67 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: 2.24 ft0.35 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.82 ft – 2.90 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.23 ft+0.36 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.51 ft – 5.67 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.91 ft – 8.98 ft
Highest on record: 13.37 ftJuly 18, 1996

Floating and fishing near South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale

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

Flood stage here is 9.00 ft, 6.41 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

15.00 ft: Kirkland Sewer Plant property may be threatened.
14.00 ft: Structures threatened along Main Street in Kirkland.
13.50 ft: Numerous residential structures threatened along North Street in Kirkland.
12.50 ft: A few structures threatened near the river along Irene Road northeast of Fairdale. A few residential structures threatened along North Street in Kirkland. 6th Street (Kirkland Road) threatened in Kirkland.
11.00 ft: Pearl Street threatened in Kirkland.
10.50 ft: Irene Road threatened northeast of Fairdale.
10.00 ft: Widespread inundation of agricultural land near Fairdale and Kirkland.
9.00 ft: McNeal Road threatened north of Fairdale. North Street threatened in Kirkland.
8.50 ft: Low-lying portions of Kirkland River Park inundated.
6.50 ft: Water overflows low-lying banks near Fairdale and Kirkland.
2.59 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	13.37 ft	July 18, 1996
2	12.15 ft	July 24, 2010
3	11.24 ft	June 13, 1999
4	10.96 ft	June 4, 2002
5	10.71 ft	February 21, 1997
6	10.45 ft	August 24, 2007
7	10.45 ft	March 19, 1979
8	10.37 ft	May 17, 2020
9	10.34 ft	July 4, 1983
10	10.31 ft	February 20, 1994

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 64° 38° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 68° 40° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 70° 46° – Wind 7 mph

23 Fri 70° 52° – Wind 10 mph

24 Sat 70° 54° – Wind 15 mph

25 Sun 69° 55° – Wind 10 mph

26 Mon 63° 37° 0.30 in Wind 15 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:14 AM Sunset 06:08 PM Daylight 10 hr, 53 min First quarter 69%

Map

Other gauges on the South Branch Kishwaukee River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South Branch Kishwaukee River at DekalbRiver gauge, South Branch Kishwaukee River	3.59 ft	High	−0.03 ft	14 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kishwaukee River near PerryvilleRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	6.26 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	8 mi
Kishwaukee River at BelvidereRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	1.85 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	10 mi
Rock River above Dam at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River	2.61 ft	High	−0.02 ft	15 mi
Rock River at Auburn St at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River	3.16 ft	Normal	−0.05 ft	15 mi
Rock River at ByronRiver gauge, Rock River	7.10 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	18 mi
Kishwaukee River at MarengoRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	7.73 ft	Normal	−0.10 ft	18 mi
Rock River at Latham ParkRiver gauge, Rock River	5.18 ft	Normal	−0.10 ft	20 mi
Rock River at RocktonRiver gauge, Rock River	5.01 ft	High	−0.15 ft	25 mi

Questions and answers

How does the South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale compare with last year?

It is 0.36 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.23 ft.

What is flood stage for the South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 6.41 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.24 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.82 ft and 2.90 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 South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 08:45 AM CDT, the water level was 2.59 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale rising or falling?

Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale 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:05439500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.11058, -88.90065 (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	2.59 ft	2026-10-20 13:45	Provisional
Flow	153 cfs	2026-10-20 13:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale (usgs:05439500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/south-branch-kishwaukee-river-near-fairdale

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