Major Flood
22 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
18 ft
Minor Flood
16 ft
Action Stage
13 ft
What Floods at Each Level
27 ft
High water levels cause Dresden Lock to shut down.
22 ft
Multiple residences threatened between Morris and Marseilles. Numerous roadways threatened along the river between Morris and Marseilles.
21 ft
Morris Public Works property is threatened. West River Road is threatened.
20 ft
Low-lying residences threatened in Morris.
19.5 ft
Old Stage Road threatened near the Illinois and Michigan Canal between Morris and Seneca.
18.5 ft
A few residences threatened along Cemetery Road in Morris.
18 ft
A few roads threatened near Morris. Low-lying portions of Illini Park inundated near Marseilles.
16 ft
Pine Bluff Road threatened west of IL-47 south of Morris. Dwight Road threatened south of Morris. High water levels begin to impact shipping interests along the river.
12.5 ft
Low-lying portions of Stratton Park inundated near IL-47 in Morris.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
2.7
Low water levels begin to impact shipping interests along the river.
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 | 24.91 ft | — |
| Sep 15, 2008 | 24.84 ft | — |
| May 18, 2020 | 24.8 ft | 103,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Illinois 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 Illinois River at Morris?
The Illinois River at Morris gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05542500) 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 Morris?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Illinois River at Morris is 16 feet. Action stage begins at 13 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 22 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 Morris 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 Illinois River at Morris gauge located?
The gauge is located in Grundy County, Illinois at coordinates 41.3546°N, 88.4285°W. USGS site number: 05542500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Illinois River
On This River
Upstream: Illinois River at Dresden Lock (tailwater)
Downstream: Illinois River at Marseilles Lock (tailwater)
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Army Corps of Engineers, 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.