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SwedenMississippi River at Chester water level
River gauge, Mississippi River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 189,000 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.60 ft by Sunday, November 1 at 06:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 11:26 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Mississippi River at Chester is at 12.34 ft, in the normal range.
It is 14.66 ft below the flood stage of 27.00 ft.
It has dropped 1.16 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.60 ft by Sunday, November 1 at 06:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 12.33 ft and 14.13 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 49.74 ftAugust 7, 1993
- Lowest on record
- −4.30 ftJanuary 2, 1964
- Forecast peak
- 12.40 ftSunday, October 18 at 01:00 PM
Floating and fishing near Mississippi River at Chester
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 27.00 ft, 14.66 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 53.00 ft
- Near this height, the Ste. Genevieve County levee #3 is overtopped.
- 51.00 ft
- The Health Care Unit of the Menard Correctional Center begins flooding near this height. Also at this height, the Grand Tower levee is overtopped. This levee protects 14,800 acres.
- 50.00 ft
- Ste. Genevieve, Ft. Chartres, Ivy Landing, and Kaskaskia Island levees overtopped.
- 49.50 ft
- Near this height, the Bois Brule, Degognia, and Fountain Bluff levees are overtopped. The Bois Brule levee protects 26,060 acres. The Degognia and Fountain Bluff levees protect 36,200 acres.
- 49.40 ft
- Stringtown and Prairie DuRocher levees overtopped.
- 49.00 ft
- Degognia and Fountain Bluff Levee overtopped.
- 47.50 ft
- The Ardent Mills Chester Mill begins flooding near this height.
- 45.50 ft
- Near this height, Missouri Route H will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to Route M.
- 45.10 ft
- Near this height, Missouri Route M is closed in both directions at River Aux Vases.
- 45.00 ft
- At this height, the Chester waterworks pumphouse floods.
- 44.00 ft
- At this height, Missouri State Highway 51 is closed from Perry County Road 944 to the Illinois State Line at the bridge into Chester.
- 42.40 ft
- Near this height, Missouri Route H is closed between Route M and Missouri Highway 51.
- 12.34 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: 21 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49.74 ft | August 7, 1993 |
| 2 | 46.52 ft | June 10, 2019 |
| 3 | 45.99 ft | January 2, 2016 |
| 4 | 44.66 ft | May 6, 2017 |
| 5 | 44.00 ft | May 23, 1995 |
| 6 | 43.32 ft | April 30, 1973 |
| 7 | 42.41 ft | June 5, 2013 |
| 8 | 41.02 ft | May 5, 1983 |
| 9 | 40.58 ft | May 17, 2002 |
| 10 | 39.79 ft | April 16, 1979 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Mississippi River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River at GraftonRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 16.15 ft | Below flood stage | +0.32 ft | 81 mi |
| Mississippi River at St. LouisRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 9.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.45 ft | 54 mi |
| Mississippi River at Cape GirardeauRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 17.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.83 ft | 45 mi |
| Mississippi River at ThebesRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 17.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.79 ft | 51 mi |
| Mississippi River at New MadridRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 9.24 ft | Below flood stage | −1.74 ft | 92 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline Creek near PerryvilleRiver gauge, South Fork Saline Creek | 6.6 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Kaskaskia River near Red BudRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River | 68.62 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 20 mi |
| Kaskaskia River at New AthensRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River | 68.63 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 29 mi |
| Big Muddy River at Rte 127 at MurphysboroRiver gauge, Big Muddy River | 3.21 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 29 mi |
| Richland Creek near HeckerRiver gauge, Richland Creek | 27.17 ft | High | −0.21 ft | 30 mi |
| Silver Creek near FreeburgRiver gauge, Silver Creek | 0.99 ft | Normal | −0.48 ft | 35 mi |
| Big River below DeslogeRiver gauge, Big River | 29.2 cfs | Low | ±0 | 37 mi |
| Kaskaskia River near Venedy StationRiver gauge, Kaskaskia River | 1.36 ft | Low | −0.17 ft | 40 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Mississippi River at Chester?
The official flood stage is 27.00 ft. The level is currently 14.66 ft below it.
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 Mississippi River at Chester today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 02:30 PM CDT, the water level was 12.34 ft. Down 1.16 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Mississippi River at Chester rising or falling?
Down 1.16 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Mississippi River at Chester normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Mississippi River at Chester?
The highest level on record is 49.74 ft on August 7, 1993. The lowest is −4.30 ft on January 2, 1964.
Is Mississippi River at Chester expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.60 ft by Sunday, November 1 at 06:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:07020500(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.90075, -89.83022(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 | 12.34 ft | 2026-10-18 19:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 189,000 cfs | 2026-10-18 19:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Mississippi River at Chester (usgs:07020500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/mississippi-river-at-chester
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