Illinois River at Florence water level
River gauge, Illinois River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Water temperature
- 67 °F
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Illinois River at Florence reads 16.83 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.63 ft above the median of 16.20 ft for mid-October, based on 14 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 14.45 ft (+2.38 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.15 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 16.28 ft and 20.85 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 67 °F.
Compared with 14 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 16.20 ft0.63 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 14.76 ft – 25.64 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (14 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 14.45 ft+2.38 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 16.28 ft – 20.85 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 14.20 ft – 29.94 ft
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.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 2.99 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 Illinois River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River at MarseillesRiver gauge, Illinois River | 11.46 ft | Normal | −1.02 ft | 154 mi |
| Illinois River at HenryRiver gauge, Illinois River | 15.28 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 121 mi |
| Illinois River at Kingston MinesRiver gauge, Illinois River | 6.30 ft | Normal | +0.69 ft | 77 mi |
| Illinois River at Copperas CreekRiver gauge, Illinois River | 5.78 ft | Normal | +0.61 ft | 70 mi |
| Illinois River at MeredosiaRiver gauge, Illinois River | 4.98 ft | Normal | −0.12 ft | 14 mi |
| Illinois River at Valley CityRiver gauge, Illinois River | 4.05 ft | Normal | −0.15 ft | 5.2 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Moine River at RipleyRiver gauge, La Moine River | 5.58 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 27 mi |
| Macoupin Creek near KaneRiver gauge, Macoupin Creek | 3.96 ft | Normal | −0.32 ft | 30 mi |
| Spencer Creek below Plum Creek near FrankfordRiver gauge, Spencer Creek | 9.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Sangamon River near OakfordRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 3.46 ft | Normal | ±0 | 47 mi |
| Sangamon River at PetersburgRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.47 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 49 mi |
| Bear Creek near MarcellineRiver gauge, Bear Creek | 2.50 ft | Normal | +0.09 ft | 52 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Illinois River at Florence compare with last year?
It is 2.38 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 14.45 ft.
What is a normal level for the Illinois River at Florence in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 16.20 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 14.76 ft and 25.64 ft, based on 14 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 Illinois River at Florence today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 02:30 PM CDT, the water level was 16.83 ft. Down 0.15 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Illinois River at Florence rising or falling?
Down 0.15 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 3.55 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Illinois River at Florence normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 14 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:05586300(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.63275, -90.60767(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 | 16.83 ft | 2026-10-17 19:30 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 67 °F | 2026-10-17 19:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Illinois River at Florence (usgs:05586300). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/illinois-river-at-florence
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