Major Flood
18.5 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
17.5 ft
Minor Flood
16 ft
Action Stage
13 ft
What Floods at Each Level
20 ft
Multiple residential structures threatened in River Forest. 1st Avenue threatened in Maywood. Backwater causes Silver Creek to threaten multiple residential structures in Melrose Park.
18 ft
Portions of Forest Home Cemetery and Concordia Cemetery are inundated in Forest Park.
17.5 ft
North Avenue (IL-64) threatened in River Grove and Melrose Park. Residential property threatened along River Oaks Drive.
16 ft
Chicago Avenue is threatened.
13 ft
Parking lots threatened at Trailside Museum.
10 ft
Forest preserve property threatend along the river.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
3.0
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
2.5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2013 | 18.98 ft | — |
| Sep 13, 2008 | 18.3 ft | — |
| May 17, 2020 | 17.5 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
RVFI2
River
Des Plaines River
County
Cook, IL
Coordinates
41.8883°N, 87.8328°W
Get Flood Alerts for Des Plaines River
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 Des Plaines River at River Forest?
The Des Plaines River at River Forest gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05530750) 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 Des Plaines River at River Forest?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Des Plaines River at River Forest is 16 feet. Action stage begins at 13 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 17.5 feet, and major flooding at 18.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Des Plaines River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Des Plaines River at River Forest 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 Des Plaines River at River Forest gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 41.8883°N, 87.8328°W. USGS site number: 05530750. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Des Plaines River
On This River
Upstream: Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)
Downstream: Des Plaines River at Riverside
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.