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Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire water level

River gauge, Des Plaines River, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

7.58ft Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
241 cfs
5 10 15 Highest onrecord 16.55 ft Minor floodstage 12.50 ft

History

681012ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 17Oct 18Minor flood stage681012ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18Minor flood stage
681012ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 11Oct 18Minor flood stage681012ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18Minor flood stage
1015ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage1015ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
1015ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20261015ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire is at 7.58 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

That puts it 1.06 ft above the median of 6.52 ft for mid-October, based on 16 years of readings. It is 4.92 ft below the flood stage of 12.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 6.36 ft (+1.22 ft).

It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 7.58 ft and 11.94 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
6.52 ft1.06 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
6.21 ft – 9.77 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (16 years of records)
Same day last year
6.36 ft+1.22 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
7.58 ft – 11.94 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
6.35 ft – 15.15 ft
Highest on record
16.55 ftJuly 13, 2017

Floating and fishing near Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 12.50 ft, 4.92 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

19.00 ft
Numerous commercial structures threatened near IL-21 (Milwaukee Avenue) and IL-60 (Townline Road). Low-lying sections of Grainger Woods Preserve are inundated.
18.00 ft
Numerous structures threatened east of IL-21 (Milwaukee Avenue) between IL-60 (Townline Road) and IL-22 (Half-Day Road). Numerous residences threatened east of the river near IL-22 (Half-Day Road). Widespread inundation of residences and businesses along US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) between IL-22 (Half-Day Road) and Lake Cook Road beings.
17.00 ft
IL-22 (Half-Day Road) threatened just west of the river. US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) threatened between IL-22 (Half-Day Road) and Lake Cook Road.
16.00 ft
Numerous structures threatened along US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) between IL-22 (Half Day Road) and Deerfield Road. Access route threatened for numerous residences near US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) and Deerfield Road. IL-60 (Townline Road) threatened near the river.
15.00 ft
Structures threatened along IL-22 (Half-Day Road) just east of the river. Multiple structures threatened near and west of US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) and Deerfield Road. Deerfield Road threatened near the river. Multiple trails inundated in Half-Day Forest Preserve.
14.00 ft
Residences threatened east of the river just south of IL-22 (Half-Day Road). Lincolnshire Drive threatened at Wiltshire Lane.
13.00 ft
Low-lying trails in Wright Woods Forest Preserve are inundated.
8.00 ft
Low-lying section of Des Plaines River Trail threatened near IL-60 (Townline Road).
7.58 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: 12 %.

RankLevelDate
116.55 ftJuly 13, 2017
216.36 ftApril 19, 2013
315.90 ftApril 3, 1960
415.75 ftMay 18, 2020
515.07 ftSeptember 14, 2019
614.50 ftApril 25, 1950
714.42 ftMay 1, 2020
814.40 ftMarch 28, 1948
914.33 ftJune 28, 2018
1013.55 ftJune 23, 2009

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.54 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 57° 38° – Wind 10 mph
18 Sun 61° 40° – Wind 14 mph
19 Mon 66° 38° – Wind 6 mph
20 Tue 65° 52° – Wind 6 mph
21 Wed 68° 53° – Wind 5 mph
22 Thu 69° 56° 0.02 in Wind 3 mph
23 Fri 70° 56° – Wind 7 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:08 AM Sunset 06:07 PM Daylight 10 hr, 58 min First quarter 52%

Map

Other gauges on the Des Plaines River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Des Plaines River at RussellRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 4.67 ft High −0.06 ft 20 mi
Des Plaines River near GurneeRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 2.97 ft Normal −0.05 ft 10 mi
Des Plaines River near Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 9.29 ft High −0.09 ft 8 mi
Des Plaines River at Algonquin Road at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 8.92 ft Normal −0.18 ft 12 mi
Des Plaines River at River ForestRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 4.92 ft Normal −0.41 ft 22 mi
Des Plaines River at RiversideRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 2.66 ft Normal −0.27 ft 27 mi
Des Plaines River at LyonsRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 11.23 ft Normal −0.54 ft 28 mi
Des Plaines River near LemontRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 6.50 ft Normal −0.49 ft 37 mi
Des Plaines River at Route 53 at JolietRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 538.97 ft Normal ±0 47 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Wf of Nb Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, Wf of Nb Chicago River 7.25 ft Normal −0.03 ft 3.9 mi
Buffalo Creek near WheelingRiver gauge, Buffalo Creek 1.71 ft Normal +0.06 ft 3.9 mi
Skokie River at Lake ForestRiver gauge, Skokie River 2.09 ft Normal −0.04 ft 4.4 mi
Wf of Nb Chicago River at NorthbrookRiver gauge, Wf of Nb Chicago River 0.98 ft Normal −0.04 ft 6.1 mi
North Branch Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, North Branch Chicago River 4.50 ft Normal −0.11 ft 6.1 mi
Skokie River near Highland ParkRiver gauge, Skokie River 2.81 ft Low −0.02 ft 7 mi
Mc Donald Creek near Mount ProspectRiver gauge, Mc Donald Creek 0.97 ft Normal −0.08 ft 7 mi
Weller Creek at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Weller Creek 0.75 ft Normal −0.05 ft 10 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire compare with last year?

It is 1.22 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.36 ft.

What is flood stage for the Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire?

The official flood stage is 12.50 ft. The level is currently 4.92 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6.52 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6.21 ft and 9.77 ft, based on 16 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 Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 01:45 PM CDT, the water level was 7.58 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire rising or falling?

Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.07 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 16 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:05528100 (Agency page)
Coordinates
42.20056, -87.91861 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 7.58 ft 2026-10-18 18:45 Provisional
Flow 241 cfs 2026-10-18 18:45 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire (usgs:05528100). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/des-plaines-river-at-lincolnshire

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