Lake Fork at Atwood water level
River gauge, Lake Fork, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Lake Fork at Atwood reads 2.97 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.10 ft above the median of 2.87 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 1.77 ft (+1.20 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.33 ft and 2.98 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.87 ft0.10 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.74 ft – 4.81 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.77 ft+1.20 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.33 ft – 2.98 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.33 ft – 12.72 ft
- Highest on record
- 15.76 ftDecember 29, 2015
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.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.76 ft | December 29, 2015 |
| 2 | 15.75 ft | June 7, 2008 |
| 3 | 15.69 ft | June 4, 2008 |
| 4 | 15.39 ft | April 12, 1994 |
| 5 | 15.25 ft | May 13, 2002 |
| 6 | 15.01 ft | February 6, 2008 |
| 7 | 14.67 ft | April 19, 2013 |
| 8 | 14.40 ft | January 14, 2005 |
| 9 | 14.25 ft | May 19, 1995 |
| 10 | 14.24 ft | July 31, 1992 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 2.10 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Lake Fork
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork near CornlandRiver gauge, Lake Fork | 7.7 cfs | Low | −1.0 cfs | 49 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia River below FicklinRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River | 2.52 ft | Normal | +0.35 ft | 5.8 mi |
| Kaskaskia River Inflow at FicklinRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River Inflow | 7.10 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 6.0 mi |
| West Okaw River near LovingtonRiver gauge, West Okaw River | 2.27 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 11 mi |
| Embarras River near CamargoRiver gauge, Embarras River | 3.49 ft | Normal | +0.09 ft | 15 mi |
| Kaskaskia River at Cooks MillsRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River | 1.54 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 16 mi |
| Sangamon River at MonticelloRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 5.07 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 17 mi |
| Whitley Creek near AllenvilleRiver gauge, Whitley Creek | 2.18 ft | Normal | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Copper Slough at ChampaignRiver gauge, Copper Slough | 9.92 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 22 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Lake Fork at Atwood compare with last year?
It is 1.20 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.77 ft.
What is a normal level for Lake Fork at Atwood in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.87 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.74 ft and 4.81 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 Lake Fork at Atwood today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 10:15 PM CDT, the water level was 2.97 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Lake Fork at Atwood rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lake Fork at Atwood normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lake Fork at Atwood?
The highest level on record is 15.76 ft on December 29, 2015.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05590800(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.80631, -88.47622(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 | 2.97 ft | 2026-10-18 03:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Fork at Atwood (usgs:05590800). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/lake-fork-at-atwood
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