Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham water level
River gauge, Calumet Union Drainage Canal, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 2.1 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham is at 2.30 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 2.39 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.09 ft below typical. It is 7.70 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 3.70 ft, a difference of −1.40 ft.
It has dropped 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.30 ft and 4.68 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.39 ft0.09 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.15 ft – 3.18 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.70 ft−1.40 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.30 ft – 4.68 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.10 ft – 7.86 ft
- Highest on record
- 12.00 ftOctober 11, 1954
Floating and fishing near Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 10.00 ft, 7.70 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 12.50 ft
- Widespread inundation of roadways and structures in the floodplain reaches 2 blocks from the canal in Markham and Harvey.
- 11.00 ft
- Multiple structures are threatened in Markham and Harvey.
- 10.00 ft
- Multiple roadways are threatened in Markham and Harvey. Low-lying sections of Martin Luther King Park are inundated in Markham.
- 9.00 ft
- Water overflows low-lying river banks along the canal in Markham and Harvey.
- 2.30 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.00 ft | October 11, 1954 |
| 2 | 11.50 ft | July 13, 1957 |
| 3 | 10.00 ft | September 14, 2008 |
| 4 | 8.64 ft | May 17, 2020 |
| 5 | 8.24 ft | July 19, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midlothian Creek at Oak ForestRiver gauge, Midlothian Creek | 1.59 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 3.5 mi |
| Thorn Creek at ThorntonRiver gauge, Thorn Creek | 2.90 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 3.6 mi |
| Little Calumet River at South HollandRiver gauge, Little Calumet River | 5.52 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 3.6 mi |
| Natalie Creek at MidlothianRiver gauge, Natalie Creek | 5.09 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 3.9 mi |
| Butterfield Creek at FlossmoorRiver gauge, Butterfield Creek | 4.04 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 4.0 mi |
| Thorn Creek at GlenwoodRiver gauge, Thorn Creek | 2.54 ft | Very low | ±0 | 5.1 mi |
| Tinley Creek near Palos ParkRiver gauge, Tinley Creek | 2.60 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 6 mi |
| Deer Creek near Chicago HeightsRiver gauge, Deer Creek | 3.19 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 7 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham higher than last year?
No, it is 1.40 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.70 ft.
What is flood stage for the Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 7.70 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.39 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.15 ft and 3.18 ft, based on 7 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 Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 04:45 AM CDT, the water level was 2.30 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 7 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:05536310(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.59700, -87.66572(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 | 2.30 ft | 2026-10-19 09:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2.1 cfs | 2026-10-19 09:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Calumet Union Drainage Canal near Markham (usgs:05536310). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/calumet-union-drainage-canal-near-markham
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