Major Flood
10 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
8 ft
Minor Flood
6.5 ft
Action Stage
5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
16 ft
I-55 threatened north of the river northwest of Wilmington.
14 ft
IL-113 threatened west of Kankakee near Limestone.
13.5 ft
Multiple residences threatened along Water Street in Wilmington. South River Road threatened near I-55 northwest of Wilmington.
13 ft
Kankakee Community College threatened. Numerous residences threatened on the south side of the river near downtown Kankakee. Multiple residences threatened along Amber Lane northwest of Wilmington.
12.5 ft
Numerous residences threatened along Readman Lane northwest of Wilmington.
12 ft
Residences threatened near Potawatamie Trail and Hawkins Drive west of Kankakee. Riverside Hospital property threatened in Kankakee.
11.5 ft
Washington Avenue/McMullen Drive threatened in downtown Kankakee. Bradley Water Treatment Plant property threatened.
10.5 ft
Residences threatened along River Street in downtown Kankakee. Numerous residences threatened along Cobb Boulevard in eastern Kankakee. A few residences threatened along Water Street and Towpath Lane in Wilmington. Access road threatened at Milliken Lake in Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area.
10 ft
Water treatment plant in Kankakee is threatened. Multiple businesses and residences threatened along Baltimore Street on Alden Island in Wilmington.
9.5 ft
Kennedy Drive threatened near the river and Court Street in Kankakee.
9 ft
Structures threatened along Water Street near Jeffers Park in Kankakee. Multiple residences threatened in Aroma Park. A few low-lying structures surrounded by water along Amber Lane, Readman Lane, and Cottage Road northwest of Wilmington. IL-53 threatened in Wilmington.
8.5 ft
Widows Road threatened near Wilmington Water Treatment Plant.
8 ft
Wilmington Water Treatment Plant property threatened. A few low-lying residences threatened along Widows Road northwest of Wilmington.
7 ft
North River Road threatened near the Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area. Low-lying sections of Bird Park and Jeffers Park inundated in Kankakee. Roadways and athletic fields threatened at South Island Park and North Island Park inundated in Wilmington.
6.5 ft
Roadways threatened at South Island Park in Wilmington.
5 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks along the river near Wilmington.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1.0
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
0.0
River nears zero flow.
-0.5
Water supply intakes at Wilmington Water Treatment Plant may be threatened. Water supply for the city of Wilmington can be supplemented by groundwater sources.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 1886 | 16.7 ft | — |
| Feb 4, 1883 | 16.7 ft | — |
| Jan 29, 1968 | 13.88 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Kankakee 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 Kankakee River near Wilmington?
The Kankakee River near Wilmington gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05527500) 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 Kankakee River near Wilmington?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Kankakee River near Wilmington is 6.5 feet. Action stage begins at 5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 8 feet, and major flooding at 10 feet.
How do I get alerts when Kankakee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Kankakee River near Wilmington 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 Kankakee River near Wilmington gauge located?
The gauge is located in Will County, Illinois at coordinates 41.3463°N, 88.1867°W. USGS site number: 05527500. 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, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- 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.
- Impact statements listed below may not be representative during times of ice jam flooding.