Big Bureau Creek at Princeton water level
River gauge, Big Bureau Creek, Illinois, United States
Right now
Very high for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 149 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Big Bureau Creek at Princeton is well above normal at 3.22 ft.
That puts it 1.05 ft above the median of 2.17 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 10.78 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.31 ft (+0.91 ft).
It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.12 ft and 9.45 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
- 2.17 ft1.05 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.34 ft – 3.02 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.31 ft+0.91 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.12 ft – 9.45 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.34 ft – 9.45 ft
- Highest on record
- 16.01 ftMay 17, 1974
Flood levels and safety
Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.
Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.01 ft | May 17, 1974 |
| 2 | 15.88 ft | January 24, 1938 |
| 3 | 15.73 ft | February 21, 1997 |
| 4 | 15.31 ft | June 24, 1994 |
| 5 | 15.16 ft | June 15, 1972 |
| 6 | 14.59 ft | June 26, 1978 |
| 7 | 14.53 ft | February 21, 1937 |
| 8 | 14.12 ft | June 28, 1945 |
| 9 | 14.00 ft | February 13, 1949 |
| 10 | 13.80 ft | August 8, 1939 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.38 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River at HenryRiver gauge, Illinois River | 15.42 ft | Normal | +0.13 ft | 19 mi |
| Indian Creek near WyomingRiver gauge, Indian Creek | 10.26 ft | High | −0.12 ft | 30 mi |
| Rock River above Sinnissippi Dam at Rock FallsRiver gauge, Rock River | 6.70 ft | Very high | +0.03 ft | 30 mi |
| Rock River at ComoRiver gauge, Rock River | 5.14 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 31 mi |
| Vermilion River near LeonoreRiver gauge, Vermilion River | 3.64 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 31 mi |
| Rock River at DixonRiver gauge, Rock River | 9.53 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 33 mi |
| Green River near GeneseoRiver gauge, Green River | 4.89 ft | High | −0.21 ft | 35 mi |
| Fox River at DaytonRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.43 ft | High | −0.12 ft | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Big Bureau Creek at Princeton compare with last year?
It is 0.91 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.31 ft.
What is flood stage for Big Bureau Creek at Princeton?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 10.78 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Big Bureau Creek at Princeton in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.17 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.34 ft and 3.02 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 Big Bureau Creek at Princeton today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 02:45 PM CDT, the water level was 3.22 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Bureau Creek at Princeton rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Bureau Creek at Princeton normal?
Very 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:05556500(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.36740, -89.49796(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 | 3.22 ft | 2026-10-18 19:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 149 cfs | 2026-10-18 19:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Bureau Creek at Princeton (usgs:05556500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/big-bureau-creek-at-princeton
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