Fox River at Algonquin water level
River gauge, Fox River, Illinois, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The Fox River at Algonquin is above normal at 1.77 ft.
That puts it 0.30 ft above the median of 1.48 ft for mid-October, based on 38 years of readings. It is 1.23 ft below the flood stage of 3.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.39 ft (+0.38 ft).
It has risen 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. In the last month it has stayed between 1.29 ft and 1.98 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 38 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.48 ft0.30 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.18 ft – 2.03 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (38 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.39 ft+0.38 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.29 ft – 1.98 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.17 ft – 3.52 ft
- Highest on record
- 4.50 ftApril 1, 1916
Floating and fishing near Fox River at Algonquin
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Flood stage here is 3.00 ft, 1.23 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 6.00 ft
- Algonquin Road (IL-62) is threatened west of the river in Algonquin.
- 4.00 ft
- Flooding affects residences in Algonquin along Lowe Drive.
- 3.50 ft
- Some homes flood in Valley View subdivision north of St Charles.
- 3.20 ft
- Some homes are threatened by flooding in Richardson subdivision near Algonquin.
- 3.00 ft
- Flooding begins to affect residences along River Road in Fox River Grove. Water inundates some streets in mobile home park in Northwest Elgin. Street flooding begins in Holiday Hills.
- 1.77 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.50 ft | April 1, 1916 |
| 2 | 4.42 ft | July 5, 1938 |
| 3 | 4.40 ft | March 6, 1918 |
| 4 | 4.39 ft | July 23, 2017 |
| 5 | 4.37 ft | March 16, 1929 |
| 6 | 4.16 ft | March 30, 1920 |
| 7 | 4.15 ft | May 1, 1921 |
| 8 | 4.03 ft | April 23, 2013 |
| 9 | 4.01 ft | April 6, 1960 |
| 10 | 4.01 ft | March 12, 1974 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.31 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Fox River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River at PrincetonRiver gauge, Fox River | 5.12 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 124 mi |
| Fox River at WaukeshaRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 58 mi |
| Fox River at Waterford Dam, at WaterfordRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.62 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 42 mi |
| Fox River at RochesterRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.30 ft | Normal | −0.12 ft | 40 mi |
| Fox River near New MunsterRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.09 ft | Below flood stage | +0.26 ft | 31 mi |
| Fox River at JohnsburgRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.07 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 15 mi |
| Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.96 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 10 mi |
| Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.86 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 12 mi |
| Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River | 6.86 ft | Normal | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Fox River at MontgomeryRiver gauge, Fox River | 11.79 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 30 mi |
| Fox River at YorkvilleRiver gauge, Fox River | 13.01 ft | Normal | −0.12 ft | 37 mi |
| Fox River at DaytonRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.70 ft | High | +0.38 ft | 60 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River (Tailwater) at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 6.63 ft | Normal | +0.28 ft | 0.4 mi |
| Tyler Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Tyler Creek | 5.83 ft | High | −0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Poplar Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Poplar Creek | 1.44 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 10 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 2.11 ft | Normal | +0.25 ft | 10 mi |
| Boone Creek near Mc HenryRiver gauge, Boone Creek | 1.21 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 11 mi |
| Nippersink Creek above Wonder LakeRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 5.25 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 16 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Fox River at Algonquin compare with last year?
It is 0.38 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.39 ft.
What is flood stage for the Fox River at Algonquin?
The official flood stage is 3.00 ft. The level is currently 1.23 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Fox River at Algonquin in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.48 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.18 ft and 2.03 ft, based on 38 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 Fox River at Algonquin today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 06:45 AM CDT, the water level was 1.77 ft. Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Fox River at Algonquin rising or falling?
Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Fox River at Algonquin normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 38 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:05550000(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.16631, -88.29033(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 | 1.77 ft | 2026-10-17 11:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River at Algonquin (usgs:05550000). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/fox-river-at-algonquin
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