Illinois River at Meredosia
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Morgan County, Illinois on the Illinois River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05585500, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
24 ft
Moderate Flood
22 ft
Minor Flood
17 ft
Action Stage
14 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
38 ft
Coon Run Levee is overtopped.
33.5 ft
McGee Creek Levee is overtopped.
32 ft
Mauvaise Terre Levee is overtopped.
31 ft
Meredoisa Lake Levee is overtopped.
29.8 ft
Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and Levee at route 104 overtop.
28 ft
Scott County and Northern Meredoisa Levees are overtopped and flood fighting activities begin at Willow Creek Lake and Dam.
27 ft
Flood fighting begins at Scott County... Coon Run... and Meredosia Lakes and Dams.
26.4 ft
Flood Fighting begins at Valley City Lake and Dam and floodwaters overtop Little Creek Levee.
26 ft
Damage begins to buildings in Meredosia. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard will consider closing the Illinois River between the LaGrange Lock and Dam and Montezuma.
25.7 ft
Cemetary Road begins flooding west of Old Naples Road.
25.4 ft
Flood Fighting begins at Little Creek Lake and Dam.
25 ft
Smith Lake Road is flooded south of Meredosia.
24.7 ft
County Roads 1625E and 1675E begin to flood northwest of Meredosia.
24 ft
Kochs Lane east of Shady Acres begins flooding.
23 ft
Flood fighting activities begin at Big Swan Lake and Dam.
22.4 ft
Meredosia Lake Road overtopped.
22.2 ft
Low roads in Florence overtopped.
22 ft
Cargill Company in Florence begins flood fighting activities. Also, unloading operations are shut down at the Ameren power plant.
21 ft
Chambers Road south of Naples floods at Mauvaise Terre Creek near this level.
20 ft
Beach Road just north of Shady Acres floods near this height.
18 ft
City of Meredosia plugs storm sewer outlets.
17.39 ft
Meredosia boat dock floods.
13 ft
Sunset Beach Road begins flooding about two miles north of Meredosia near this level.
1 ft
At and below this height, barge traffic will need to consider lowering tonnage to avoid grounding.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 2015 | 28.86 ft | 112,000 cfs |
| Jul 2, 2015 | 28.86 ft | 112,000 cfs |
| May 25, 1943 | 28.7 ft | 123,000 cfs |
| May 25, 1943 | 28.7 ft | 123,000 cfs |
| Apr 27, 2013 | 28.69 ft | -9,999 cfs |
About This Gauge
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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 Illinois River at Meredosia?
The Illinois River at Meredosia gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05585500) 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 Illinois River at Meredosia?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Illinois River at Meredosia is 17 feet. Action stage begins at 14 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 22 feet, and major flooding at 24 feet.
How do I get alerts when Illinois River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Illinois River at Meredosia to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Illinois River at Meredosia gauge located?
The gauge is located in Morgan County, Illinois at coordinates 39.8312°N, 90.5598°W. USGS site number: 05585500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.