Major Flood
15.5 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
9 ft
Action Stage
7.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
22 ft
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad tracks may be threatened near Glenwood.
21 ft
I-94 may be threatened near 170th Street in South Holland.
20 ft
Structures may be threatened along Clyde Avenue, 173rd Street, and 173rd Place in South Holland.
19 ft
I-294/I-80 may be threatened west of the creek near the Lincoln Oasis. Residential structures may be threatened along Everett Avenue, Cregier Avenue, and Vollbrecht Road in South Holland. Clyde Avenue, 173rd Street, and 173rd Place may be threatened in South Holland.
18.5 ft
Industrial structures may be threatened along Bernice Road in South Holland.
18 ft
Margaret Street threatened in Thornton.
17.5 ft
Residential structures may be threatened along Kimbark Avenue, University Avenue, and 173rd Street in South Holland.
17 ft
Kimbark Avenue, University Avenue, 173rd Street, Everett Avenue, Cregier Avenue, and Vollbrecht Road may be threatened in South Holland. Thorn Creek Diversion Tunnel reaches capacity.
16 ft
Residential structures threatened along Margaret Street in Thornton.
15.5 ft
Structures threatened at Glenwood Academy. Residences threatened along Park Drive in Glenwood. 170th Street may be threatened in South Holland.
15 ft
Industrial structures threatened south of Margaret Street in Thornton.
14.5 ft
Park Drive threatened in Glenwood. Industrial parking lots threatened south of Margaret Street in Thornton.
13.5 ft
Chicago Heights Glenwood Road threatened in Glenwood. Residential parking lots threatened along Margaret Street in Thornton.
13 ft
Parking lots threatened at Glenwood Academy.
12 ft
Structures threatened along Glenwood Thornton Road north of Glenwood.
11.5 ft
Glenwood Thornton Road threatened north of Glenwood.
11 ft
187th Street threatened in Glenwood.
9 ft
Water begins to be diverted through Thorn Creek Diversion Tunnel.
8 ft
Athletic fields are inundated at Glenwood Academy.
7 ft
Water overflows low-lying banks in Glenwood, Thornton, and South Holland.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
2.5
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 1981 | 17.06 ft | 4,140 cfs |
| Nov 27, 1990 | 16.87 ft | 4,210 cfs |
| Jul 17, 1996 | 16.24 ft | 4,470 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Thorn 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 Thorn Creek at Thornton?
The Thorn Creek at Thornton gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05536275) 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 Thorn Creek at Thornton?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Thorn Creek at Thornton is 9 feet. Action stage begins at 7.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 14 feet, and major flooding at 15.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Thorn Creek rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Thorn Creek at Thornton 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 Thorn Creek at Thornton gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 41.5682°N, 87.6083°W. USGS site number: 05536275. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Thorn Creek
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.