Mississippi River at Alton
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Madison County, Illinois on the Mississippi River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05587498, 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
31 ft
Moderate Flood
24 ft
Minor Flood
21 ft
Action Stage
20 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
39 ft
Near this height, floodwaters will reach the floor of the Lincoln Shields gazebo in West Alton, Missouri.
38.7 ft
Near this height U.S. Highway 67 will be completely closed.
36.7 ft
The railroad between Wood River and Alton begins flooding near this height.
32 ft
At this height, the waterpark playground will become inundated.
31.2 ft
Near this height, the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 67 will begin flooding, forcing the detour of southbound traffic onto the northbound lanes.
30.9 ft
Near this height, water will begin flowing over Riverlands Way between Highway 67 and Mel Price Locks and Dam. This road is a part of the Consolidated North County levee, so this is the point when water begins gradually flowing onto the protected farmland and farm homes behind the levee.
30.8 ft
The intersection of West Broadway (Illinois 100) and U.S. Highway 67 will begin flooding near this height.
29.7 ft
Floodwater begins damaging property in Elsah, Illinois and in Portage des Sioux, Missouri near this height.
29.2 ft
Near this height, floodwater should begin to impact the base of the Ardent Mills grain bins.
28.2 ft
At this height, water will cover the sidewalk near the waterpark playground.
28 ft
Near this height, the flood wall around the Argosy Casino will overtop, flooding the casino parking lot.
27.2 ft
At this height, Bloch Marine Service at Harbor Point Yacht Club begins flooding.
26.6 ft
Route 100 at Alton closes near this height.
25.5 ft
Highway 100 will begin flooding at Clifton Terrace Street within 2 feet of this height.
24.6 ft
Missouri Highway 94 from Alta Villa Road to Feltes Drive will be closed near this height.
24.5 ft
Highway 100 begins flooding at the Clifton Terrace Street intersection near this height.
24.2 ft
The Wood River South Levee flood gate is closed near this height.
23.3 ft
Near this height, the outer road between Riverlands Way and the Lincoln Shields Access Road will close due to flooding.
23.2 ft
Yachtview Drive begins flooding along the entrance to Harbor Point Yacht Club near this height.
22.2 ft
Missouri Highway 94 between Portage Des Sioux and West Alton begins flooding. Yachtview Drive begins flooding along the entrance to Harbor Point Yacht Club.
21.7 ft
At this level, Highway 94 and the east end of Harbor Point Road off of Missouri Highway 94 north of West Alton begin flooding. Also, the access road the Lincoln Shields recreation area off of U.S. Highway 367 just west of the Clark bridge begins flooding.
20.7 ft
During open river conditions (Mel Price gates all open), Alta Villa Road off of Highway 94 begins flooding and is closed.
19.7 ft
During open river conditions (Mel Price gates are open), Dresser Island Drive begins flooding near this level.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 1993 | 39.55 ft | 369,500 cfs |
| Aug 1, 1993 | 39.55 ft | 369,500 cfs |
| Jun 8, 2019 | 35.3 ft | — |
| Jun 8, 2019 | 35.3 ft | — |
| Jan 1, 2016 | 31.94 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
ALOI2
River
Mississippi River
County
Madison, IL
Coordinates
38.8872°N, 90.1839°W
Get Flood Alerts for Mississippi 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 Mississippi River at Alton?
The Mississippi River at Alton gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05587498) 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 Mississippi River at Alton?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Mississippi River at Alton is 21 feet. Action stage begins at 20 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24 feet, and major flooding at 31 feet.
How do I get alerts when Mississippi River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Mississippi River at Alton 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 Mississippi River at Alton gauge located?
The gauge is located in Madison County, Illinois at coordinates 38.8872°N, 90.1839°W. USGS site number: 05587498. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: U.S. 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 precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.