Major Flood
7.5 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
6.5 ft
Minor Flood
5 ft
Action Stage
4.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
12.5 ft
Arlington Heights Road may be threatened in Buffalo Grove.
11 ft
Buffalo Grove Road threatened at Lake Cook Road.
10.5 ft
Buffalo Grove Village Hall threatened. A few residential structures threatened along Raupp Boulevard in Buffalo Grove.
10 ft
Holmes Middle School threatened in Wheeling.
9.5 ft
Raupp Boulevard threatened in Buffalo Grove.
9 ft
Widespread inundation of roadways and structures begins between Elmhurst Road and Eugene Field School in Wheeling. Water begins to bypass the main channel to the southeast along McHenry Road and Wheeling Road causing widespread inundation of roadways and structures near Wheeling Town Center. Elmhurst Road (IL-83) threatened in Wheeling. Parking lots threatened at Buffalo Grove Village Hall. Large portions of Buffalo Grove Golf Club inundated.
8.5 ft
Multiple commercial structures threatened near Elmhurst Road and Dundee Road in Wheeling. Widespread inundation of roadways and structures begins near Wolf Road and Jeffery Avenue in Wheeling. Multiple structures threatened along Northgate Parkway in Wheeling. McHenry Road threatened in Wheeling.
8 ft
Residential structures threatened along Valley Stream Drive, Manda Lane, and side streets in Wheeling. Lake Cook Road threatened in Buffalo Grove. Weiland Road threatened at McHenry Road (IL-83) in Wheeling.
7.5 ft
A few structures threatened along Dundee Road in Wheeling. Valley Stream Drive, Manda Lane, and side streets threatened in Wheeling.
7 ft
A few structures threatened near Buffalo Grove Road and Lake Cook Road. A few structures threatened along St Marys Parkway near Lincoln Terrace in Buffalo Grove. Wolf Road and Jeffery Avenue threatened in Wheeling. Athletic fields threatened near Emmerich Park in Buffalo Grove. Agricultural land inundated in northwest Wheeling.
6.5 ft
Residential parking lots threatened along McHenry Road. Low-lying portions of Buffalo Grove Golf Club inundated. Athletic fields threatened at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
6 ft
Low-lying portions of Heritage Park inundated in Wheeling.
5 ft
Parking lots threatened along Buffalo Grove Road.
4.5 ft
Trails threatened near Arlington Heights Road in Buffalo Grove. Low-lying portions of Emmerich Park inundated in Buffalo Grove.
4 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Buffalo Grove and Wheeling.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1.0
River nears zero flow.
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2013 | 8.46 ft | 1,170 cfs |
| Jul 21, 1982 | 7.94 ft | 887 cfs |
| Jul 11, 2017 | 7.83 ft | 916 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
WHEI2
River
Buffalo Creek (IL)
County
Cook, IL
Coordinates
42.1519°N, 87.9578°W
Get Flood Alerts for Buffalo Creek (IL)
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling?
The Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05528500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling is 5 feet. Action stage begins at 4.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 6.5 feet, and major flooding at 7.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Buffalo Creek (IL) rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Buffalo Creek (IL) at Wheeling gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 42.1519°N, 87.9578°W. USGS site number: 05528500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
Downstream: Des Plaines River near Des Plaines
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey