Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Kankakee River near Wilmington water level

River gauge, Kankakee River, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

1.52ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
2,070 cfs
Water temperature
54 °F
0 5 10 15 Highest onrecord 16.70 ft Minor floodstage 6.50 ft

History

123ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Oct 18123ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18
123ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 11Oct 18123ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18
358ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage358ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
358ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026358ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Kankakee River near Wilmington is at 1.52 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 1.20 ft, based on 33 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.32 ft above typical. It is 4.98 ft below the flood stage of 6.50 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.05 ft, a difference of +0.47 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.43 ft and 2.15 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 54 °F.

Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.20 ft0.32 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
0.90 ft – 3.06 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year
1.05 ft+0.47 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.43 ft – 2.15 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.10 ft – 5.35 ft
Highest on record
16.70 ftJanuary 1, 1887

Floating and fishing near Kankakee River near Wilmington

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 6.50 ft, 4.98 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

16.00 ft
I-55 threatened north of the river northwest of Wilmington.
14.00 ft
IL-113 threatened west of Kankakee near Limestone.
13.50 ft
Multiple residences threatened along Water Street in Wilmington. South River Road threatened near I-55 northwest of Wilmington.
13.00 ft
Kankakee Community College threatened. Numerous residences threatened on the south side of the river near downtown Kankakee. Multiple residences threatened along Amber Lane northwest of Wilmington.
12.50 ft
Numerous residences threatened along Readman Lane northwest of Wilmington.
12.00 ft
Residences threatened near Potawatamie Trail and Hawkins Drive west of Kankakee. Riverside Hospital property threatened in Kankakee.
11.50 ft
Washington Avenue/McMullen Drive threatened in downtown Kankakee. Bradley Water Treatment Plant property threatened.
10.50 ft
Residences threatened along River Street in downtown Kankakee. Numerous residences threatened along Cobb Boulevard in eastern Kankakee. A few residences threatened along Water Street and Towpath Lane in Wilmington. Access road threatened at Milliken Lake in Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area.
10.00 ft
Water treatment plant in Kankakee is threatened. Multiple businesses and residences threatened along Baltimore Street on Alden Island in Wilmington.
9.50 ft
Kennedy Drive threatened near the river and Court Street in Kankakee.
9.00 ft
Structures threatened along Water Street near Jeffers Park in Kankakee. Multiple residences threatened in Aroma Park. A few low-lying structures surrounded by water along Amber Lane, Readman Lane, and Cottage Road northwest of Wilmington. IL-53 threatened in Wilmington.
8.50 ft
Widows Road threatened near Wilmington Water Treatment Plant.
1.52 ft
Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 8 %.

RankLevelDate
116.70 ftJanuary 1, 1887
216.70 ftFebruary 5, 1883
313.88 ftJanuary 30, 1968
413.18 ftFebruary 5, 2019
512.83 ftFebruary 25, 1985
612.78 ftJanuary 21, 1974
712.07 ftMarch 8, 1979
812.00 ftJanuary 26, 2008
911.76 ftDecember 17, 1972
1011.57 ftFebruary 1, 1949

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:08 AM Sunset 06:09 PM Daylight 11 hr First quarter 51%

Map

Other gauges on the Kankakee River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Kankakee River at DavisRiver gauge, Kankakee River 6.35 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 77 mi
Kankakee River at Dunns BridgeRiver gauge, Kankakee River 4.31 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 64 mi
Kankakee River near KoutsRiver gauge, Kankakee River 5.26 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 60 mi
Kankakee River at ShelbyRiver gauge, Kankakee River 5.88 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 45 mi
Kankakee River at MomenceRiver gauge, Kankakee River 2.04 ft Normal −0.02 ft 30 mi
Kankakee River at Inflow of Power Plant near LorenzoRiver gauge, Kankakee River 504.57 ft Very low −0.05 ft 4.9 mi
Kankakee River below Ushwy 30 near HannaRiver gauge, Kankakee River 1.94 ft No reference yet −0.02 ft 77 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Aux Sable Creek near MorrisRiver gauge, Aux Sable Creek 3.81 ft Normal −0.36 ft 10 mi
Mazon River near Coal CityRiver gauge, Mazon River 1.48 ft Normal −0.07 ft 10 mi
Du Page River at ShorewoodRiver gauge, Du Page River 10.86 ft Very high −0.25 ft 12 mi
Illinois River at MorrisRiver gauge, Illinois River 5.41 ft Normal +0.07 ft 13 mi
Hickory Creek at JolietRiver gauge, Hickory Creek 10.95 ft Normal −0.10 ft 13 mi
Des Plaines River at Route 53 at JolietRiver gauge, Des Plaines River 538.97 ft Normal ±0 14 mi
Illinois River at SenecaRiver gauge, Illinois River 20.48 ft Low −0.12 ft 22 mi
Long Run near LemontRiver gauge, Long Run 1.16 ft Normal −0.23 ft 23 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Kankakee River near Wilmington higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.47 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.05 ft.

What is flood stage for the Kankakee River near Wilmington?

The official flood stage is 6.50 ft. The level is currently 4.98 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Kankakee River near Wilmington in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.20 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.90 ft and 3.06 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 Kankakee River near Wilmington today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 10:45 AM CDT, the water level was 1.52 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Kankakee River near Wilmington rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.22 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Kankakee River near Wilmington normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 33 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:05527500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
41.34633, -88.18672 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 1.52 ft 2026-10-18 15:45 Provisional
Flow 2,070 cfs 2026-10-18 15:45 Provisional
Water temperature 54 °F 2026-10-18 15:45 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Kankakee River near Wilmington (usgs:05527500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/kankakee-river-near-wilmington

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