Poplar Creek at Elgin
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cook County, Illinois on the Poplar Creek. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05550500, 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
8 ft
Moderate Flood
6.5 ft
Minor Flood
5.5 ft
Action Stage
5 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
14 ft
US-20 (Elgin Bypass) may threatened near the creek.
13.5 ft
Bluff City Boulevard may be threatened.
11.5 ft
Water begins to bypass the main channel toward IL-25 and Dixon Avenue.
11 ft
Structures threatened at Elgin High School. Villa Street is threatened near the creek.
10.5 ft
IL-25 (St Charles Street) may be threatened near the creek.
10 ft
Widespread inundation of structures and roadways in the floodplain reaches up to two blocks from the creek near IL-25 (St Charles Street) and Unity Park. Water begins to bypass the main channel toward structures along Dixon Avenue near Cookane Avenue. Numerous industrial structures threatened near IL-25 (St Charles Street).
9 ft
Widespread inundation of structures and roadways in the floodplain reaches several blocks from the creek north of Villa Street near Prairie Park.
8 ft
Numerous residences are threatened along Ramona Avenue near Villa Street. Varsity Drive is threatened.
7 ft
Campus Drive is threatened near Elgin High School.
6.5 ft
A few residences are threatened near Unity Park. Raymond Street is threatened.
6 ft
Hammond Avenue is threatened near Illinois Avenue. Low-lying sections of Unity Park inundated.
5.5 ft
Ramona Avenue is threatened near Villa Street.
4 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Campus Park.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1
River nears zero flow.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2008 | 7.69 ft | 1,560 cfs |
| Sep 12, 2008 | 7.69 ft | 1,560 cfs |
| Apr 17, 2013 | 7.42 ft | 1,430 cfs |
| Apr 17, 2013 | 7.42 ft | 1,430 cfs |
| Feb 20, 1997 | 6.78 ft | 1,180 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Poplar Creek
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 Poplar Creek at Elgin?
The Poplar Creek at Elgin gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05550500) 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 Poplar Creek at Elgin?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Poplar Creek at Elgin is 5.5 feet. Action stage begins at 5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 6.5 feet, and major flooding at 8 feet.
How do I get alerts when Poplar Creek rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Poplar Creek at Elgin 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 Poplar Creek at Elgin gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 42.0261°N, 88.2556°W. USGS site number: 05550500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey