Major Flood
12.5 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
11.5 ft
Minor Flood
10.5 ft
Action Stage
9.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
14 ft
US-41 southbound is threatened south of the river.
13.5 ft
Shelby levee overtops leading to potential inundation of numerous structures and roads. Widespread inundation of the floodplain may reach up to 4 miles from the river.
13 ft
Water reaches the top of the levees in Sumava Resorts. Water reaches the top of levees near Shelby.
12.5 ft
US-41 northbound is inundated south of the river. Multiple residences are threatened along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
12 ft
IN-55 is threatened south of the river. County Road 1200W/Range Line Road is threatened north of the river. County Road 1150N is threatened at Sumava Resorts.
11.5 ft
Low-lying residences are threatened along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
10.5 ft
Water overflows low-lying river banks along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby. Water begins to be diverted through the Blackberry Marsh Spillway to reduce flood impacts.
10 ft
Stateline Road is threatened near the river west of Schneider.
9 ft
Low-lying agricultural land is inundated.
7.5 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in forest land near the Illinois/Indiana state line.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
3.0
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
1.0
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2008 | 13.04 ft | 6,230 cfs |
| Mar 23, 1982 | 12.98 ft | 7,650 cfs |
| Jun 15, 2015 | 12.9 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Kankakee 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 Kankakee River at Shelby?
The Kankakee River at Shelby gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05518000) 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 Kankakee River at Shelby?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Kankakee River at Shelby is 10.5 feet. Action stage begins at 9.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11.5 feet, and major flooding at 12.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Kankakee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Kankakee River at Shelby 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 Kankakee River at Shelby gauge located?
The gauge is located in Newton County, Indiana at coordinates 41.1828°N, 87.3403°W. USGS site number: 05518000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Kankakee River
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- 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.