Is the Mississippi River flooding?

Illinois · 4 gauges · Illinois river levels

The Mississippi River is tracked by 4 USGS streamgauges in Illinois. This page compares each gauge’s live water level against its official National Weather Service flood stage, refreshed every 15 minutes, so you can tell whether the Mississippi River is running normal, rising toward flood stage, or already flooding. 4 of 4 gauges have both a usable water-level reading and a published minor flood stage. Gauges without a published flood stage show water level and flow only. For nearby rivers, see all Illinois river levels.

data refreshed 3 min ago

Readings may be delayed; check each observation time below. This gauge summary does not rule out flooding on unmonitored stretches or nearby streets.

River facts

The longest-running gauge on this river is Mississippi River at Thebes, IL. The highest level ever recorded there was 47.36 ft on 2 January 2016, carrying 1,050,000 cfs. Peak records there go back to 1844 (94 annual peaks). It is currently at 15.79 ft, 31.6 ft below that record.

Drains 713,200 sq mi · gauge elevation 300 ft · source: USGS peak-flow record

GaugeStatusStageFlood stageUpdated
Mississippi River at Dam 13 near Fulton, ILNo flooding9.91 ft16 ft
Mississippi River at Grafton, ILNo flooding15.49 ft20 ft
Mississippi River at Chester, ILNo flooding13.15 ft27 ft
Mississippi River at Thebes, ILNo flooding15.79 ft33 ft
Provisional data: Real-time readings are provisional and subject to revision by the USGS — sensors can be affected by ice, debris, or equipment malfunction. Do not rely on this site for decisions involving personal safety; follow official guidance from the National Weather Service and local authorities.