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Des Plaines River near Gurnee water level

River gauge, Des Plaines River, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.93ft Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
138 cfs
0 5 10 Highest onrecord 12.09 ft Minor floodstage 7.00 ft

History

246ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Oct 18Minor flood stage246ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18Minor flood stage
358ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 11Oct 18Minor flood stage358ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18Minor flood stage
510ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage510ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
510ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026510ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

The gauge at Des Plaines River near Gurnee reads 2.93 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 1.67 ft, based on 32 years of readings, so the river stage is 1.26 ft above typical. It is 4.07 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.65 ft, a difference of +1.28 ft.

The level is falling, down 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.93 ft and 8.28 ft.

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

Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.67 ft1.26 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.23 ft – 4.83 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
Same day last year
1.65 ft+1.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
2.93 ft – 8.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.48 ft – 10.70 ft
Highest on record
12.09 ftJuly 16, 2017

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 7.00 ft, still 4.07 ft away.

What happens at each level

13.50 ft
Structures are threatened at Libertyville Wastewater Treatment Plant.
12.50 ft
Structures are threatened at Mundelein Water Reclamation Facility near Libertyville.
12.00 ft
Libertyville Wastewater Treatment Plant property is threatened.
11.00 ft
US-41 (Skokie Highway) threatened near the river in Gurnee. Mundelein Water Reclamation Facility property is threatened near Libertyville.
10.00 ft
Residences threatened along Kilbourne Road and near O'Plaine Road and McClure Avenue in Gurnee. Businesses threatened along Old Grand Avenue near IL-132 in Gurnee. IL-132 (Grand Avenue) is threatened east of the river in Gurnee.
9.00 ft
Kilbourne Road and Emerald Avenue threatened near Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
7.00 ft
Forest land inundated near the river in Gurnee.
6.50 ft
Low-lying sections of the Des Plaines River trail inundated.
6.00 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Gurnee.
2.93 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: 26 %.

RankLevelDate
112.09 ftJuly 16, 2017
211.95 ftSeptember 27, 1986
311.76 ftMay 25, 2004
411.20 ftApril 20, 2013
510.64 ftApril 3, 1960
610.52 ftSeptember 15, 2019
710.30 ftJune 16, 2000
810.29 ftMarch 22, 1979
99.89 ftApril 22, 1993
109.84 ftMarch 7, 1976

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.09 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

18 Sun 60° 41° – Wind 15 mph
19 Mon 66° 38° – Wind 6 mph
20 Tue 65° 49° – Wind 7 mph
21 Wed 68° 50° – Wind 5 mph
22 Thu 70° 53° – Wind 5 mph
23 Fri 70° 60° – Wind 9 mph
24 Sat 71° 60° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:09 AM Sunset 06:07 PM Daylight 10 hr, 58 min First quarter 51%

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 4.69 ft High −0.04 ft 10 mi
Des Plaines River at LincolnshireRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 7.59 ft Normal −0.04 ft 10 mi
Des Plaines River near Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 9.28 ft High −0.12 ft 18 mi
Des Plaines River at Algonquin Road at Des PlainesRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 8.96 ft Normal −0.17 ft 22 mi
Des Plaines River at River ForestRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 4.91 ft Normal −0.47 ft 32 mi
Des Plaines River at RiversideRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 2.70 ft Normal −0.33 ft 37 mi
Des Plaines River at LyonsRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 11.27 ft Normal −0.56 ft 38 mi
Des Plaines River near LemontRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 6.55 ft Normal −0.49 ft 47 mi
Des Plaines River at Route 53 at JolietRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 538.97 ft Normal ±0 56 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Mill Creek at Old Mill CreekRiver gauge, Mill Creek 6.87 ft Normal −0.13 ft 5.1 mi
Skokie River at Lake ForestRiver gauge, Skokie River 2.09 ft Normal −0.07 ft 9 mi
Fox Lake near Lake VillaLake, Fox Lake 4.09 ft Normal −0.03 ft 11 mi
Wf of Nb Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, Wf of Nb Chicago River 7.25 ft Normal −0.04 ft 13 mi
Nippersink Lake at Fox LakeLake, Nippersink Lake 4.03 ft Very low −0.07 ft 13 mi
Buffalo Creek near WheelingRiver gauge, Buffalo Creek 1.72 ft Normal −0.03 ft 13 mi
Channel Lake near AntiochLake, Channel Lake 4.24 ft Normal +0.04 ft 14 mi
North Branch Chicago River at DeerfieldRiver gauge, North Branch Chicago River 4.51 ft Normal −0.07 ft 15 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Des Plaines River near Gurnee higher than last year?

Yes, it is 1.28 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.65 ft.

What is flood stage for the Des Plaines River near Gurnee?

The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 4.07 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Des Plaines River near Gurnee in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.67 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.23 ft and 4.83 ft, based on 32 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 near Gurnee today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 10:30 AM CDT, the water level was 2.93 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Des Plaines River near Gurnee rising or falling?

Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.27 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Des Plaines River near Gurnee normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:05528000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
42.34389, -87.94111 (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 2.93 ft 2026-10-18 15:30 Provisional
Flow 138 cfs 2026-10-18 15:30 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Des Plaines River near Gurnee (usgs:05528000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/des-plaines-river-near-gurnee

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