Kishwaukee River at Marengo water level
River gauge, Kishwaukee River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 110 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Kishwaukee River at Marengo is at 7.86 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 7.22 ft, based on 15 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.64 ft above typical. It is 4.14 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 6.73 ft, a difference of +1.13 ft.
It has dropped 0.11 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 7.66 ft and 10.19 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 7.22 ft0.64 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 6.82 ft – 9.52 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (15 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 6.73 ft+1.13 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 7.66 ft – 10.19 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 6.75 ft – 11.67 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.06 ftSeptember 4, 2018
Floating and fishing near Kishwaukee River at Marengo
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 4.14 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 16.00 ft
- Residences threatened along Woodbine Lane in Marengo.
- 14.00 ft
- Marengo Water Treatment Facility property threatened. Deerpass Road threatened north of Marengo.
- 13.50 ft
- IL-23 (State Street) threatened in Marengo.
- 12.00 ft
- Boone-McHenry County Line Road is threatened.
- 7.86 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.06 ft | September 4, 2018 |
| 2 | 12.67 ft | April 11, 2013 |
| 3 | 12.52 ft | May 18, 2020 |
| 4 | 12.34 ft | July 24, 2017 |
| 5 | 12.19 ft | July 6, 2022 |
| 6 | 12.12 ft | February 21, 2018 |
| 7 | 11.86 ft | June 27, 2018 |
| 8 | 11.77 ft | September 14, 2019 |
| 9 | 11.52 ft | March 13, 2019 |
| 10 | 11.51 ft | April 30, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.36 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 Kishwaukee River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kishwaukee River at BelvidereRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River | 1.98 ft | Normal | −0.10 ft | 13 mi |
| Kishwaukee River near PerryvilleRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River | 6.35 ft | Normal | −0.13 ft | 21 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippersink Creek above Wonder LakeRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 5.10 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 15 mi |
| Boone Creek near Mc HenryRiver gauge, Boone Creek | 1.14 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 16 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 6.33 ft | Normal | −0.18 ft | 18 mi |
| Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.71 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 18 mi |
| Piscasaw Creek near WalworthRiver gauge, Piscasaw Creek | 3.2 cfs | Normal | −0.2 cfs | 18 mi |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River near FairdaleRiver gauge, South Branch Kishwaukee River | 2.70 ft | High | −0.11 ft | 18 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 1.98 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 18 mi |
| Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.75 ft | Low | −0.13 ft | 19 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Kishwaukee River at Marengo higher than last year?
Yes, it is 1.13 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.73 ft.
What is flood stage for the Kishwaukee River at Marengo?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 4.14 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Kishwaukee River at Marengo in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 7.22 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6.82 ft and 9.52 ft, based on 15 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 Kishwaukee River at Marengo today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 03:15 PM CDT, the water level was 7.86 ft. Down 0.11 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kishwaukee River at Marengo rising or falling?
Down 0.11 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Kishwaukee River at Marengo normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 15 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:05438170(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.26535, -88.60849(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 | 7.86 ft | 2026-10-18 20:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 110 cfs | 2026-10-18 20:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kishwaukee River at Marengo (usgs:05438170). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/kishwaukee-river-at-marengo
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