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
8.5 ft
Minor Flood
6 ft
Action Stage
5.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
12.5 ft
Auburn Street is threatened near the river in Rockford.
10.5 ft
Structures are threatened at Davis Park in downtown Rockford.
9.5 ft
Numerous structures are threatened at the river in downtown Rockford and near Morgan Street and Loomis Street. Davis Park is threatened in downtown Rockford.
9 ft
Residences are threatened along Nelson Boulevard in Rockford. Backwater causes Spring Creek to inundate low-lying areas of Anderson Gardens in Rockford.
8.5 ft
Residences are threatened along River Bluff Court and River Court in Loves Park. Structures are threatened at Sinnissippi Gardens in Rockford including Nicholas Conservatory. Willoughby Terrace is threatened in Rockford.
8 ft
Parking garage threatened at Rockford Public Library.
7.5 ft
Parking lots are threatened along Madison Street in Rockford. Morgan Street and Nelson Boulevard are threatened in Rockford.
7 ft
Riverfront trails and park area threatened at Rockford Public Library.
6.5 ft
River Bluff Court and River Court are threatened in Loves Park. Marinelli Field is threatened in Blackhawk Park.
5.5 ft
Low-lying sections of the Rock River Recreation Trail are threatened in Rockford. Riverview Mobile Home Park is threatened in Rockford.
5 ft
Low-lying areas of Blackhawk Island are inundated south of Rockford. Low-lying areas of Field Gem Park are inundated south of Rockford.
4.5 ft
Low-lying areas of Blackhawk Park are inundated in Rockford.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
2.0
River nears zero flow except for any water released manually through gates at Fordam Dam.
1.5
Boats may be left beached at downtown Rockford marinas.
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 19, 1881 | 10 ft | — |
| Mar 25, 1975 | 7.8 ft | — |
| Mar 17, 2019 | 7.43 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Rock 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 Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street)?
The Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street) gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05437641) 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 Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street)?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street) is 6 feet. Action stage begins at 5.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 8.5 feet, and major flooding at 10 feet.
How do I get alerts when Rock River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street) 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 Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street) gauge located?
The gauge is located in Winnebago County, Illinois at coordinates 42.2889°N, 89.0653°W. USGS site number: 05437641. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Rock River
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, 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.