Skokie River at Lake Forest
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Lake County, Illinois on the Skokie River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05535000, 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
10.5 ft
Moderate Flood
8.5 ft
Minor Flood
6 ft
Action Stage
4 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
13 ft
Widespread inundation of structures and roadways in the floodplain reaches multiple blocks from the river in Highland Park. Numerous residences may be threatened near the creek off Onwentsia Road and Westleight Road in Lake Forest.
11.5 ft
Lake Forest Police Department may be threatened. Numerous commercial structures may be threatened along US-41 (Skokie Highway) in Highland Park.
11 ft
Numerous residences are threatened off Half Day Road near Sleepy Hollow Park, near Central Avenue and Beverly Place in Highland Park, and near Highland Park High School. Structures are threatened at Highland Park High School. Half Day Road is threatened in Highland Park.
10.5 ft
US-41 (Skokie Highway) is threatened near Rockland Road in Lake Bluff.
10 ft
Onwentsia Road, Deerpath Road, and Old Elm Road are threatened in Lake Forest. Numerous residential streets are threatened off Onwentsia Road and Westleigh Road in Lake Forest.
9 ft
A few residences are threatened off Half Day Road near Sleepy Hollow Park, and near Central Avenue and Beverly Place in Highland Park. Roadways and parking areas are threatened near Centennial Ice Arena in Highland Park. Athletic fields are threatened at Cunniff Park in Highland Park.
7 ft
Athletic fields are threatened at Highland Park High School.
6.5 ft
Numerous residential streets are threatened off Half Day Road near Sleepy Hollow Park in Highland Park. Parking lots threatened off Park Avenue near Skokie Highway (US-41) in Highland Park.
6 ft
Trail Way threatened near Sleepy Hollow Park in Highland Park.
5.5 ft
Low-lying sections of Deerpath Golf Course and Onwentsia Golf Course are inundated in Lake Forest. Low-lying sections of Highland Park Country Club are inundated.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1.5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2017 | 9.09 ft | 795 cfs |
| Jul 12, 2017 | 9.09 ft | 795 cfs |
| Jul 21, 1982 | 8.35 ft | 435 cfs |
| Jul 21, 1982 | 8.35 ft | 435 cfs |
| Sep 25, 1986 | 8.27 ft | 492 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Skokie 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 Skokie River at Lake Forest?
The Skokie River at Lake Forest gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05535000) 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 Skokie River at Lake Forest?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Skokie River at Lake Forest is 6 feet. Action stage begins at 4 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 8.5 feet, and major flooding at 10.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Skokie River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Skokie River at Lake Forest 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 Skokie River at Lake Forest gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lake County, Illinois at coordinates 42.2325°N, 87.8453°W. USGS site number: 05535000. 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