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SwedenLansing Ditch near Lansing water level
River gauge, Lansing Ditch, Illinois, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 35.1 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Lansing Ditch near Lansing shows 5.51 ft, above normal for mid-October.
That puts it 1.18 ft above the median of 4.33 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 1.49 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.64 ft (+1.87 ft).
The water is rising: up 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.06 ft and 5.80 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.33 ft1.18 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.54 ft – 5.90 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.64 ft+1.87 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.06 ft – 5.80 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.53 ft – 7.99 ft
- Highest on record
- 10.18 ftOctober 11, 1954
What the stage means on the water
Fast, high water is not the time for casual paddling. Strainers, debris and cold water make an unplanned swim dangerous.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 7.00 ft, still 1.49 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 11.00 ft
- Residences are threatened near the gauge in Lynwood.
- 10.00 ft
- Numerous residences are threatened along Burnham Avenue and south of 201st Street in Lynwood. Structures are threatened at Lansing Municipal Aiport.
- 9.00 ft
- Taxiways and runways are threatened at Lansing Municipal Airport.
- 8.00 ft
- Numerous sections of Burnham Avenue are threatened in Lynwood and Lansing.
- 6.00 ft
- Water overflows low-lying banks near the gauge.
- 5.51 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.18 ft | October 11, 1954 |
| 2 | 9.52 ft | July 18, 1996 |
| 3 | 9.52 ft | September 14, 2008 |
| 4 | 9.35 ft | June 13, 1981 |
| 5 | 9.24 ft | May 10, 1948 |
| 6 | 9.19 ft | July 2, 1983 |
| 7 | 9.19 ft | November 27, 1990 |
| 8 | 9.16 ft | April 17, 2006 |
| 9 | 9.08 ft | July 21, 2003 |
| 10 | 9.07 ft | May 22, 1982 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.85 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart Ditch at DyerCanal gauge, Hart Ditch | 2.12 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 1.7 mi |
| Deer Creek near Chicago HeightsRiver gauge, Deer Creek | 3.23 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 3.2 mi |
| Hart Ditch at MunsterCanal gauge, Hart Ditch | 0.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 3.4 mi |
| Little Calumet River at MunsterRiver gauge, Little Calumet River | 5.46 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 3.4 mi |
| Little Calumet River at Northcote Av at MunsterRiver gauge, Little Calumet River | 9.97 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 3.5 mi |
| Little Calumet River near HammondRiver gauge, Little Calumet River | 6.13 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 4.0 mi |
| Little Calumet River at HighlandRiver gauge, Little Calumet River | 8.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 4.5 mi |
| Thorn Creek at GlenwoodRiver gauge, Thorn Creek | 2.54 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 4.8 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Lansing Ditch near Lansing compare with last year?
It is 1.87 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.64 ft.
What is flood stage for Lansing Ditch near Lansing?
The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 1.49 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Lansing Ditch near Lansing in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.33 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.54 ft and 5.90 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 Lansing Ditch near Lansing today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 06:15 AM CDT, the water level was 5.51 ft. Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Lansing Ditch near Lansing rising or falling?
Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.30 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lansing Ditch near Lansing normal?
High 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:05536265(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.52836, -87.52944(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 | 5.51 ft | 2026-10-18 11:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 35.1 cfs | 2026-10-18 11:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lansing Ditch near Lansing (usgs:05536265). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/lansing-ditch-near-lansing
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