Elkhorn Creek near Penrose water level

Name: Elkhorn Creek near Penrose water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Elkhorn Creek, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

3.27ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 10:45 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 95.7 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

High water at Elkhorn Creek near Penrose: the latest reading is 3.27 ft, above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.85 ft, based on 33 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.42 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 2.81 ft, a difference of +0.46 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.11 ft – 5.67 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: 2.85 ft0.42 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.50 ft – 3.61 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.81 ft+0.46 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.11 ft – 5.67 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.63 ft – 6.71 ft
Highest on record: 19.60 ftJune 1, 1938

Paddling and fishing conditions

Above-normal flows push fish to the edges and make wading risky. Wait for the river to drop and clear.

What happens at each level

9.00 ft: Water flows onto the flood plain on the right bank.
3.27 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	19.60 ft	June 1, 1938
2	17.75 ft	January 5, 1946
3	17.42 ft	June 4, 2002
4	16.53 ft	May 17, 1974
5	16.11 ft	February 19, 1971
6	15.94 ft	August 25, 1972
7	15.74 ft	April 21, 1973
8	15.60 ft	February 21, 1997
9	15.52 ft	June 13, 1952
10	15.39 ft	May 29, 1996

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.39 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 57° 33° – Wind 10 mph

18 Sun 63° 37° – Wind 17 mph

19 Mon 64° 38° – Wind 6 mph

20 Tue 67° 47° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 68° 48° 0.01 in Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 70° 54° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 72° 54° – Wind 12 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:16 AM Sunset 06:13 PM Daylight 10 hr, 56 min First quarter 60%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rock River above Sinnissippi Dam at Rock FallsRiver gauge, Rock River	6.65 ft	Very high	−0.01 ft	8 mi
Rock River at ComoRiver gauge, Rock River	5.26 ft	Below flood stage	+0.13 ft	9 mi
Rock River at DixonRiver gauge, Rock River	9.45 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	12 mi
Mississippi River at Dam 13 near FultonRiver gauge, Mississippi River	5.07 ft	Below flood stage	+0.21 ft	24 mi
Rock River at ByronRiver gauge, Rock River	7.13 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	27 mi
Pecatonica River at FreeportRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.03 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	28 mi
Mississippi River at ClintonRiver gauge, Mississippi River	9.62 ft	Below flood stage	+0.22 ft	30 mi
Rock River near JoslinRiver gauge, Rock River	7.32 ft	Normal	+0.05 ft	35 mi

Questions and answers

Is Elkhorn Creek near Penrose higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.46 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.81 ft.

What is a normal level for Elkhorn Creek near Penrose in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.85 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.50 ft and 3.61 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 Elkhorn Creek near Penrose today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 10:45 AM CDT, the water level was 3.27 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Elkhorn Creek near Penrose rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.13 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Elkhorn Creek near Penrose normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Elkhorn Creek near Penrose?

The highest level on record is 19.60 ft on June 1, 1938.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:05444000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.90275, -89.69639 (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	3.27 ft	2026-10-19 15:45	Provisional
Flow	95.7 cfs	2026-10-19 15:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Elkhorn Creek near Penrose (usgs:05444000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/elkhorn-creek-near-penrose

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