Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago water level

Name: Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Nb Chicago River, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

-2.03ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 02:00 AM CDT (43 min ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago is above normal at −2.03 ft.

That puts it 0.16 ft above the median of −2.19 ft for mid-October, based on 21 years of readings. It is 5.03 ft below the flood stage of 3.00 ft. A year ago it stood at −1.88 ft (−0.15 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between −3.21 ft and −1.65 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 21 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: −2.19 ft0.16 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: −2.45 ft – −1.97 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (21 years of records)
Same day last year: −1.88 ft−0.15 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: −3.21 ft – −1.65 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: −3.30 ft – −1.21 ft
Highest on record: 5.70 ftOctober 10, 1954

Floating and fishing near Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago

Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.

Flood stage here is 3.00 ft, 5.03 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

6.00 ft: Numerous structures flooded near the river in the Chicago Loop, Near North Side, West Town, Near West Side, Lower West Side, and Armour Square areas of Chicago.
5.50 ft: Railroad tracks near Lake and Canal Streets are threatened.
5.00 ft: Lower level of residences threatened along Wells Street near Polk Street. A few residences threatened along the river near Grand Avenue. Railroad tracks near Union Station are threatened. Lower level of office towers may be threatened near the river. Low-lying parking lots are threatened between Grand Avenue and Chicago Avenue.
4.00 ft: Lower Wacker Drive is threatened.
3.50 ft: Commercial areas of the Chicago Riverwalk are threatened.
3.00 ft: Numerous stretches of the Chicago Riverwalk are inundated. USACE and MWRD consider opening of Chicago Lock to reduce flood impacts, depending on the water level of Lake Michigan.
2.00 ft: Low-lying sections of the Chicago Riverwalk are threatened. Low-lying sections of Ping Tom Park are inundated.
1.00 ft: City of Chicago considers closure of the Chicago Riverwalk.
−2.03 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	5.70 ft	October 10, 1954
2	5.32 ft	May 17, 2020
3	5.00 ft	July 24, 2010
4	4.28 ft	July 23, 2011
5	4.20 ft	August 16, 1997
6	3.72 ft	October 14, 2017
7	3.67 ft	April 18, 2013
8	3.43 ft	September 13, 2008
9	3.37 ft	June 15, 2015
10	3.24 ft	December 27, 2008

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.13 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 56° 38° – Wind 14 mph

18 Sun 61° 38° – Wind 12 mph

19 Mon 67° 40° – Wind 7 mph

20 Tue 64° 55° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 69° 54° – Wind 5 mph

22 Thu 69° 57° 0.00 in Wind 4 mph

23 Fri 70° 57° – Wind 8 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:09 AM Sunset 06:03 PM Daylight 10 hr, 54 min First quarter 66%

Map

Other gauges on the Nb Chicago River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Nb Chicago River at N Pulaski Road at ChicagoRiver gauge, Nb Chicago River	10.94 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	7 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Chicago River at Columbus Drive at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago River	−2.13 ft	Normal	±0	1.1 mi
Lake Michigan at Chicago Lock at ChicagoLake, Lake Michigan	0.36 ft	Normal	+0.48 ft	1.8 mi
Chicago River at Chicago Lock at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago River	−2.05 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	1.8 mi
Chicago S & South Canal at Western Ave at ChicagoRiver gauge, Chicago S & South Canal	−2.00 ft	High	+0.06 ft	4.4 mi
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at StickneyRiver gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal	−2.04 ft	Very high	+0.09 ft	8 mi
Des Plaines River at River ForestRiver gauge, Des Plaines River	4.68 ft	Normal	−0.14 ft	10 mi
Des Plaines River at RiversideRiver gauge, Des Plaines River	2.54 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	10 mi
Des Plaines River at LyonsRiver gauge, Des Plaines River	10.87 ft	Normal	−0.13 ft	11 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago compare with last year?

It is 0.15 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was −1.88 ft.

What is flood stage for the Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago?

The official flood stage is 3.00 ft. The level is currently 5.03 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is −2.19 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between −2.45 ft and −1.97 ft, based on 21 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 Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 02:00 AM CDT, the water level was −2.03 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 21 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:05536118 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.89233, -87.64236 (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	−2.03 ft	2026-10-20 07:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Nb Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago (usgs:05536118). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/nb-chicago-river-at-grand-avenue-at-chicago

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