Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenPlum Creek near Crete water level
River gauge, Plum Creek, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 2.8 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Plum Creek near Crete reads 7.68 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 8.03 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.35 ft below typical. It is 6.32 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 8.17 ft, a difference of −0.49 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 7.66 ft and 8.92 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8.03 ft0.35 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 7.20 ft – 8.94 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 8.17 ft−0.49 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 7.66 ft – 8.92 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 7.60 ft – 15.13 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.72 ftJune 9, 2011
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 14.00 ft, still 6.32 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 25.00 ft
- Residences are threatened along Exchange Street east of Crete.
- 24.00 ft
- Burville Road is threatened east of Crete.
- 19.00 ft
- Steger Road is threatened east of Crete.
- 17.50 ft
- Residences are threatened along Hickory Street east of Crete.
- 15.50 ft
- Old Post Road is threatened east of Crete.
- 15.00 ft
- Exchange Street is threatened east of the creek east of Crete. Bermer Road is threatened south of creek.
- 14.50 ft
- Anne Lane is threatened east of Crete. Low-lying portions of Longwood Golf Course inundated.
- 7.68 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.72 ft | June 9, 2011 |
| 2 | 17.43 ft | February 20, 2018 |
| 3 | 17.09 ft | September 28, 2019 |
| 4 | 15.83 ft | May 18, 2020 |
| 5 | 15.62 ft | August 3, 2010 |
| 6 | 15.50 ft | July 22, 2017 |
| 7 | 14.98 ft | April 19, 2013 |
| 8 | 14.68 ft | June 16, 2015 |
| 9 | 14.45 ft | July 1, 2014 |
| 10 | 14.43 ft | April 30, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Plum Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Creek near BainbridgeRiver gauge, Plum Creek | 1.64 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 124 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart Ditch at DyerCanal gauge, Hart Ditch | 2.13 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 5.9 mi |
| Deer Creek near Chicago HeightsRiver gauge, Deer Creek | 3.18 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 6.0 mi |
| Lansing Ditch near LansingRiver gauge, Lansing Ditch | 5.56 ft | High | +0.08 ft | 7 mi |
| Thorn Creek at GlenwoodRiver gauge, Thorn Creek | 2.54 ft | Very low | +0.02 ft | 7 mi |
| Turkey Creek at Joliet St at ScherervilleRiver gauge, Turkey Creek | 3.70 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 8 mi |
| Butterfield Creek at FlossmoorRiver gauge, Butterfield Creek | 4.03 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 8 mi |
| Thorn Creek at ThorntonRiver gauge, Thorn Creek | 2.85 ft | Normal | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Hart Ditch at MunsterCanal gauge, Hart Ditch | 0.75 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 10 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Plum Creek near Crete higher than last year?
No, it is 0.49 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8.17 ft.
What is flood stage for Plum Creek near Crete?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 6.32 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Plum Creek near Crete in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8.03 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 7.20 ft and 8.94 ft, based on 17 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 Plum Creek near Crete today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 10:45 AM CDT, the water level was 7.68 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Plum Creek near Crete rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Plum Creek near Crete normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 17 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:05536162(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.43569, -87.57158(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 | 7.68 ft | 2026-10-19 15:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2.8 cfs | 2026-10-19 15:45 | 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: Plum Creek near Crete (usgs:05536162). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/plum-creek-near-crete
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