Fox River near McHenry water level
River gauge, Fox River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Water temperature
- 60 °F
History
20252026
What this means
At 3.90 ft, the Fox River near McHenry is below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 4.02 ft, based on 39 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.12 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 3.93 ft, a difference of −0.03 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.16 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.67 ft and 4.28 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that. The water temperature at the gauge is 60 °F.
Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.02 ft0.12 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.81 ft – 4.23 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (39 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.93 ft−0.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.67 ft – 4.28 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.72 ft – 5.25 ft
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.29 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 | 5.18 ft | Below flood stage | +0.17 ft | 115 mi |
| Fox River at WaukeshaRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.20 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 48 mi |
| Fox River at Waterford Dam, at WaterfordRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.61 ft | Very low | −0.08 ft | 32 mi |
| Fox River at RochesterRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.24 ft | Normal | −0.23 ft | 30 mi |
| Fox River near New MunsterRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.05 ft | Below flood stage | +0.07 ft | 21 mi |
| Fox River at JohnsburgRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.94 ft | Low | −0.16 ft | 4.6 mi |
| Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.75 ft | Normal | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.86 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 22 mi |
| Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River | 6.87 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 22 mi |
| Fox River at MontgomeryRiver gauge, Fox River | 11.81 ft | Normal | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Fox River at YorkvilleRiver gauge, Fox River | 13.03 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 47 mi |
| Fox River at DaytonRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.61 ft | High | −0.20 ft | 70 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River (Tailwater) near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 2.08 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 0.1 mi |
| Boone Creek near Mc HenryRiver gauge, Boone Creek | 1.19 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 3.2 mi |
| Nippersink Lake at Fox LakeLake, Nippersink Lake | 4.08 ft | Normal | −0.14 ft | 7 mi |
| Nippersink Creek above Wonder LakeRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 5.20 ft | Normal | −0.10 ft | 8 mi |
| Nippersink Creek near Spring GroveRiver gauge, Nippersink Creek | 4.84 ft | High | −0.05 ft | 9 mi |
| Fox Lake near Lake VillaLake, Fox Lake | 4.11 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 10 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 6.55 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 10 mi |
| Elizabeth Lake Drain near Twin LakesRiver gauge, Elizabeth Lake Drain | 794.01 ft | Normal | ±0 | 12 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Fox River near McHenry higher than last year?
No, it is 0.03 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.93 ft.
What is a normal level for the Fox River near McHenry in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.02 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.81 ft and 4.23 ft, based on 39 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 near McHenry today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 01:15 PM CDT, the water level was 3.90 ft. Down 0.16 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Fox River near McHenry rising or falling?
Down 0.16 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.11 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Fox River near McHenry normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05549500(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.31002, -88.25147(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 | 3.90 ft | 2026-10-17 18:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 60 °F | 2026-10-17 18:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River near McHenry (usgs:05549500). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/fox-river-near-mchenry
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