Major Flood
11 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
9 ft
Minor Flood
7 ft
Action Stage
6.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
13.5 ft
Structures are threatened at Libertyville Wastewater Treatment Plant.
12.5 ft
Structures are threatened at Mundelein Water Reclamation Facility near Libertyville.
12 ft
Libertyville Wastewater Treatment Plant property is threatened.
11 ft
US-41 (Skokie Highway) threatened near the river in Gurnee. Mundelein Water Reclamation Facility property is threatened near Libertyville.
10 ft
Residences threatened along Kilbourne Road and near O'Plaine Road and McClure Avenue in Gurnee. Businesses threatened along Old Grand Avenue near IL-132 in Gurnee. IL-132 (Grand Avenue) is threatened east of the river in Gurnee.
9 ft
Kilbourne Road and Emerald Avenue threatened near Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
7 ft
Forest land inundated near the river in Gurnee.
6.5 ft
Low-lying sections of the Des Plaines River trail inundated.
6 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Gurnee.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2017 | 12.09 ft | 3,440 cfs |
| Sep 26, 1986 | 11.95 ft | 3,530 cfs |
| May 25, 2004 | 11.76 ft | 3,890 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
GUNI2
River
Des Plaines River
County
Lake, IL
Coordinates
42.3439°N, 87.9411°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 near Gurnee?
The Des Plaines River near Gurnee gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05528000) 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 near Gurnee?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Des Plaines River near Gurnee is 7 feet. Action stage begins at 6.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 9 feet, and major flooding at 11 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 near Gurnee 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 near Gurnee gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lake County, Illinois at coordinates 42.3439°N, 87.9411°W. USGS site number: 05528000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Des Plaines River
On This River
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.