Major Flood
18 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
15 ft
Minor Flood
14 ft
Action Stage
13 ft
What Floods at Each Level
22 ft
Pontiac water treatment plant is threatened. IL-116 is threatened at the river in Pontiac.
21 ft
Widespread inundation of the floodplain south of downtown Pontiac floods reaches up to 5 blocks from the river.
20 ft
Lincoln Elementary School is threatened in Pontiac.
19 ft
Numerous residences threatened along Water Street north of the river in Pontiac. Widespread inundation of the floodplain south of downtown Pontiac reaches up to 2 blocks from the river. Residences along Mockingbird Lane and Meadowlark Drive are threatened in Fairway View west of Pontiac. Utility structures are threatened in Pontiac. Livingston County 4-H Park is threatened northwest of Pontiac.
18.5 ft
Mockingbird Lane and Meadowlark Drive are threatened in Fairway View west of Pontiac.
18 ft
IL-116 is threatened east of Pontiac. Inundation of Humiston-Riverside Park reaches Water Street north of the river in Pontiac.
17 ft
Numerous residences threatened along Grove Street south of the river in Pontiac. Washington Elementary School is threatened in Pontiac.
16.5 ft
Low-lying residences threatened along the river between Mill Street and Chataqua Park. Low-lying sections of Southside Cemetery are inundated in Pontiac.
15 ft
Low-lying sections of Pontiac Golf Course are inundated.
14 ft
Widespread areas of Chatauqua Park are inundated in Pontiac.
13 ft
Park Street is threatened in Pontiac. Low-lying sections of Chautauqua Park are inundated in Pontiac.
12 ft
Low-lying sections of Humiston-Riverside Park are inundated in Pontiac.
10 ft
Low-lying sections of Play Park are inundated in Pontiac.
8 ft
Trails along the river in Humiston-Riverside Park are threatened in Pontiac.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
2.0
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2008 | 19.18 ft | 13,200 cfs |
| Dec 3, 1982 | 19.16 ft | 13,100 cfs |
| Jun 2, 1980 | 18.12 ft | 11,300 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
PNTI2
River
Vermilion River
County
Livingston, IL
Coordinates
40.8778°N, 88.6360°W
Get Flood Alerts for Vermilion 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 Vermilion River at Pontiac?
The Vermilion River at Pontiac gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05554500) 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 Vermilion River at Pontiac?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Vermilion River at Pontiac is 14 feet. Action stage begins at 13 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15 feet, and major flooding at 18 feet.
How do I get alerts when Vermilion River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Vermilion River at Pontiac 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 Vermilion River at Pontiac gauge located?
The gauge is located in Livingston County, Illinois at coordinates 40.8778°N, 88.6360°W. USGS site number: 05554500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
Downstream: Vermilion River (N-IL) near Leonore
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: 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.