Rock River above Dam at Rockford water level

Name: Rock River above Dam at Rockford 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, Rock River, Illinois, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

2.66ft Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 02:00 AM CDT (47 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 Rock River above Dam at Rockford is above normal at 2.66 ft.

The median for mid-October is 2.55 ft, based on 11 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.11 ft above typical. It is 1.34 ft below the flood stage of 4.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.32 ft, a difference of +0.34 ft.

It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.94 ft and 2.78 ft.

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

Compared with 11 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.55 ft0.11 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.91 ft – 2.77 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (11 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.32 ft+0.34 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.94 ft – 2.78 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 0.58 ft – 3.30 ft
Highest on record: 6.50 ftApril 20, 1881

Floating and fishing near Rock River above Dam at Rockford

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

Flood stage here is 4.00 ft, 1.34 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

6.50 ft: Structures are threatened at Davis Park in downtown Rockford.
6.00 ft: Numerous structures are threatened at the river in downtown Rockford.
5.00 ft: Davis Park is threatened in downtown Rockford. Numerous sections of riverfront trails are inundated in downtown Rockford.
3.50 ft: Lowest sections of riverfront trails are threatened in downtown Rockford.
2.66 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	6.50 ft	April 20, 1881
2	5.60 ft	April 23, 1973
3	5.50 ft	March 29, 1916
4	5.50 ft	March 26, 1975
5	5.20 ft	February 21, 1937
6	5.20 ft	March 18, 1929
7	5.17 ft	April 4, 1959
8	5.08 ft	April 4, 1960
9	4.50 ft	November 16, 1961
10	4.30 ft	January 12, 1960

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.44 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

18 Sun 60° 38° – Wind 13 mph

19 Mon 66° 39° – Wind 5 mph

20 Tue 67° 47° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 68° 47° – Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 70° 53° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 72° 56° – Wind 11 mph

24 Sat 72° 58° 0.01 in Wind 18 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:14 AM Sunset 06:10 PM Daylight 10 hr, 55 min First quarter 57%

Map

Other gauges on the Rock River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rock River at WatertownRiver gauge, Rock River	2.37 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	66 mi
Rock River at JeffersonRiver gauge, Rock River	4.75 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	53 mi
Rock River at Fort AtkinsonRiver gauge, Rock River	11.54 ft	Below flood stage	−0.12 ft	48 mi
Rock River at NewvilleRiver gauge, Rock River	2.66 ft	Below flood stage	±0	39 mi
Rock River at AftonRiver gauge, Rock River	5.45 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	24 mi
Rock River at RocktonRiver gauge, Rock River	5.25 ft	High	−0.03 ft	13 mi
Rock River at Latham ParkRiver gauge, Rock River	5.33 ft	High	−0.05 ft	7 mi
Rock River at Auburn St at RockfordRiver gauge, Rock River	3.25 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	2.2 mi
Rock River at ByronRiver gauge, Rock River	7.15 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	13 mi
Rock River at DixonRiver gauge, Rock River	9.49 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	35 mi
Rock River above Sinnissippi Dam at Rock FallsRiver gauge, Rock River	6.69 ft	Very high	±0	45 mi
Rock River at ComoRiver gauge, Rock River	5.21 ft	Below flood stage	+0.04 ft	48 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kishwaukee River near PerryvilleRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	6.35 ft	Normal	−0.10 ft	7 mi
Kishwaukee River at BelvidereRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	1.94 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	12 mi
Pecatonica River near ShirlandRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.22 ft	Normal	+0.08 ft	13 mi
South Branch Kishwaukee River near FairdaleRiver gauge, South Branch Kishwaukee River	2.68 ft	High	−0.07 ft	15 mi
Kishwaukee River at MarengoRiver gauge, Kishwaukee River	7.80 ft	Normal	−0.13 ft	25 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Rock River above Dam at Rockford higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.34 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.32 ft.

What is flood stage for the Rock River above Dam at Rockford?

The official flood stage is 4.00 ft. The level is currently 1.34 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Rock River above Dam at Rockford in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.55 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.91 ft and 2.77 ft, based on 11 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 Rock River above Dam at Rockford today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 02:00 AM CDT, the water level was 2.66 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Rock River above Dam at Rockford rising or falling?

Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.30 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rock River above Dam at Rockford normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 11 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:05437645 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.26653, -89.09603 (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	2.66 ft	2026-10-19 07:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rock River above Dam at Rockford (usgs:05437645). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/rock-river-above-dam-at-rockford

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