Illinois River at Kingston Mines water level
River gauge, Illinois River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 10,900 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Illinois River at Kingston Mines, where the gauge shows 5.56 ft.
That puts it 2.65 ft above the median of 2.91 ft for mid-October, based on 28 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2.02 ft (+3.54 ft).
It is still going down, by 0.65 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 5.08 ft – 11.85 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.91 ft2.65 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.05 ft – 11.98 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (28 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.02 ft+3.54 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.08 ft – 11.85 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.94 ft – 19.04 ft
- Highest on record
- 26.54 ftApril 24, 2013
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.54 ft | April 24, 2013 |
| 2 | 26.02 ft | May 25, 1943 |
| 3 | 25.55 ft | March 8, 1985 |
| 4 | 25.50 ft | November 22, 1985 |
| 5 | 25.39 ft | July 1, 2015 |
| 6 | 25.29 ft | May 7, 2019 |
| 7 | 25.22 ft | March 24, 1979 |
| 8 | 24.92 ft | June 2, 2019 |
| 9 | 24.79 ft | January 3, 2016 |
| 10 | 24.68 ft | September 20, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Illinois River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River at MorrisRiver gauge, Illinois River | 5.20 ft | Normal | +0.35 ft | 90 mi |
| Illinois River at SenecaRiver gauge, Illinois River | 20.43 ft | Low | +0.05 ft | 80 mi |
| Illinois River at MarseillesRiver gauge, Illinois River | 11.98 ft | High | +0.58 ft | 77 mi |
| Illinois River at HenryRiver gauge, Illinois River | 15.43 ft | Normal | +0.15 ft | 44 mi |
| Illinois River at Copperas CreekRiver gauge, Illinois River | 5.16 ft | Normal | −0.58 ft | 8 mi |
| Illinois River at MeredosiaRiver gauge, Illinois River | 5.50 ft | Normal | +0.50 ft | 65 mi |
| Illinois River at Valley CityRiver gauge, Illinois River | 4.63 ft | Normal | +0.56 ft | 74 mi |
| Illinois River at FlorenceRiver gauge, Illinois River | 17.42 ft | Normal | +0.59 ft | 77 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackinaw River near Green ValleyRiver gauge, Mackinaw River | 13.85 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Fondulac Creek near East PeoriaRiver gauge, Fondulac Creek | 1.37 ft | Very low | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Farm Creek at FarmdaleRiver gauge, Farm Creek | 0.62 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Mason Tazewell Drainage D at Cr2350e near TopekaRiver gauge, Mason Tazewell Drainage D | 15.43 ft | Very high | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Spoon River at London MillsRiver gauge, Spoon River | 5.26 ft | Very high | −0.55 ft | 28 mi |
| Mackinaw River near CongervilleRiver gauge, Mackinaw River | 1.14 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 29 mi |
| Salt Creek near GreenviewRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 1.35 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 29 mi |
| Spoon River at SevilleRiver gauge, Spoon River | 8.97 ft | Very high | +0.36 ft | 30 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Illinois River at Kingston Mines compare with last year?
It is 3.54 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.02 ft.
What is a normal level for the Illinois River at Kingston Mines in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.91 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.05 ft and 11.98 ft, based on 28 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 Kingston Mines today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 03:45 PM CDT, the water level was 5.56 ft. Down 0.65 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Illinois River at Kingston Mines rising or falling?
Down 0.65 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 4.70 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Illinois River at Kingston Mines normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Illinois River at Kingston Mines?
The highest level on record is 26.54 ft on April 24, 2013.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05568500(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.55344, -89.77727(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 | 5.56 ft | 2026-10-18 20:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 10,900 cfs | 2026-10-18 20:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Illinois River at Kingston Mines (usgs:05568500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/illinois-river-at-kingston-mines
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