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SwedenKankakee River at Shelby water level
River gauge, Kankakee River, Indiana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1,540 cfs
- Water temperature
- 56 °F
History
What this means
The Kankakee River at Shelby is at 5.88 ft, in the normal range.
It is 4.62 ft below the flood stage of 10.50 ft.
It has dropped 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.87 ft and 5.94 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 56 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 13.04 ftSeptember 18, 2008
Floating and fishing near Kankakee River at Shelby
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 10.50 ft, 4.62 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 14.00 ft
- US-41 southbound is threatened south of the river.
- 13.50 ft
- Shelby levee overtops leading to potential inundation of numerous structures and roads. Widespread inundation of the floodplain may reach up to 4 miles from the river.
- 13.00 ft
- Water reaches the top of the levees in Sumava Resorts. Water reaches the top of levees near Shelby.
- 12.50 ft
- US-41 northbound is inundated south of the river. Multiple residences are threatened along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
- 12.00 ft
- IN-55 is threatened south of the river. County Road 1200W/Range Line Road is threatened north of the river. County Road 1150N is threatened at Sumava Resorts.
- 11.50 ft
- Low-lying residences are threatened along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
- 10.50 ft
- Water overflows low-lying river banks along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby. Water begins to be diverted through the Blackberry Marsh Spillway to reduce flood impacts.
- 10.00 ft
- Stateline Road is threatened near the river west of Schneider.
- 9.00 ft
- Low-lying agricultural land is inundated.
- 7.50 ft
- Water overtops low-lying banks in forest land near the Illinois/Indiana state line.
- 5.88 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: 30 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.04 ft | September 18, 2008 |
| 2 | 12.98 ft | March 24, 1982 |
| 3 | 12.90 ft | June 16, 2015 |
| 4 | 12.63 ft | March 11, 2009 |
| 5 | 12.32 ft | January 14, 2005 |
| 6 | 12.25 ft | March 9, 1985 |
| 7 | 12.24 ft | April 29, 2011 |
| 8 | 12.23 ft | July 25, 1996 |
| 9 | 12.23 ft | August 25, 2007 |
| 10 | 12.11 ft | March 2, 1997 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Kankakee River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee River at DavisRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 6.29 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 36 mi |
| Kankakee River at Dunns BridgeRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 4.31 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Kankakee River near KoutsRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 5.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 17 mi |
| Kankakee River at MomenceRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 2.03 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 17 mi |
| Kankakee River near WilmingtonRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 1.51 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 45 mi |
| Kankakee River at Inflow of Power Plant near LorenzoRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 504.57 ft | Very low | −0.05 ft | 50 mi |
| Kankakee River below Ushwy 30 near HannaRiver gauge, Kankakee River | 1.92 ft | No reference yet | −0.09 ft | 36 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River near ParrRiver gauge, Iroquois River | 0.4 cfs | Normal | −0.1 cfs | 13 mi |
| Deep River at Grand Blvd at MerrillvilleRiver gauge, Deep River | 3.30 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 19 mi |
| Iroquois River at RensselaerRiver gauge, Iroquois River | 4.16 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 20 mi |
| Plum Creek near CreteRiver gauge, Plum Creek | 7.66 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Iroquois River near ForesmanRiver gauge, Iroquois River | 5.41 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 22 mi |
| Turkey Creek at Joliet St at ScherervilleRiver gauge, Turkey Creek | 3.71 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 22 mi |
| Turkey Creek at 61st Av at MerrillvilleRiver gauge, Turkey Creek | 5.52 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 22 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Kankakee River at Shelby?
The official flood stage is 10.50 ft. The level is currently 4.62 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 Kankakee River at Shelby today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 04:45 PM CDT, the water level was 5.88 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kankakee River at Shelby rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Kankakee River at Shelby normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Kankakee River at Shelby?
The highest level on record is 13.04 ft on September 18, 2008.
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:05518000(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.18281, -87.34031(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 | 5.88 ft | 2026-10-18 21:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,540 cfs | 2026-10-18 21:45 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 56 °F | 2026-10-18 22:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kankakee River at Shelby (usgs:05518000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/indiana/kankakee-river-at-shelby
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