Major Flood
16 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
14 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
11.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
21.5 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the Illinois Highway 26 bridge deck in Freeport.
20 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the Stephenson Street bridge deck.
19 ft
Water affects businesses west of the Stephenson Street bridge.
17 ft
Water affects the parking lots of several businesses near the Stephenson Street bridge.
16.5 ft
Water surrounds Taylor Park School and affects Illinois Highway 75 east of Freeport.
16 ft
Water affects parking lots of businesses east of the Stephenson Street bridge and most streets north and south of Illinois Highway 75 are closed. Illinois Highway 75 is also closed.
15.5 ft
Numerous streets are closed north and south of Illinois Highway 75 and water enters the first floor level of a few homes. Water also begins to enter Taylor Park. Businesses along Van Buren Street north of the Pecatonica River are directly affected by water.
15 ft
Some street closures begin north and south of Illinois Highway 75 and water affects many back yards in Freeport east of the Pecatonica River. Water begins to reach Illinois Highway 75 at the southeast corner of Taylor Park.
14 ft
Minor street flooding begins in Freeport and water affects a few back yards east of the Pecatonica River.
13 ft
Water affects low lying sections of Freeport mainly east of the Pecatonica River.
11 ft
Some agricultural flooding occurs north of Freeport.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 1929 | 19.76 ft | 18,400 cfs |
| Mar 27, 1916 | 19.4 ft | 17,000 cfs |
| Feb 24, 1922 | 18.82 ft | 14,500 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
FEEI2
River
Pecatonica River
County
Stephenson, IL
Coordinates
42.3003°N, 89.6153°W
Get Flood Alerts for Pecatonica 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 Pecatonica River at Freeport?
The Pecatonica River at Freeport gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05435500) 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 Pecatonica River at Freeport?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Pecatonica River at Freeport is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 11.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 14 feet, and major flooding at 16 feet.
How do I get alerts when Pecatonica River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Pecatonica River at Freeport 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 Pecatonica River at Freeport gauge located?
The gauge is located in Stephenson County, Illinois at coordinates 42.3003°N, 89.6153°W. USGS site number: 05435500. 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.