Chicago River at Chicago (Columbus Dr), IL
River level and flood forecast · Cook County
Normal-2.1 ftas of Mon 3:38 PM
The river is 5.1 ft below flood stage (3 ft).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 4 ft |
| Flood stage | 3 ft |
| Action stage | 1 ft |
| Record crest (October 10, 1954) | 5.5 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 6 ftNumerous structures flooded near the river in the River West, River North, and West Loop neighborhoods.
- 5 ftLower level of office towers may be threatened near the river. Low-lying sections of River Esplanade Park are threatened including Centennial Fountain.
- 4 ftLower Wacker Drive is threatened.
- 3.5 ftCommercial areas of the Chicago Riverwalk are threatened.
- 3 ftNumerous stretches of the Chicago Riverwalk are threatened. USACE and MWRD consider opening of Chicago Lock to reduce flood impacts, depending on the water level of Lake Michigan.
- 2 ftLow-lying sections of the Chicago Riverwalk are threatened.
- 1 ftCity of Chicago considers closure of the Chicago Riverwalk.
Highest crests on record
- 5.5 ft — October 10, 1954
- 5.12 ft — May 17, 2020
- 4.72 ft — July 24, 2010
- 4.2 ft — August 16, 1997
- 3.99 ft — July 23, 2011
Recent crests: 5.12 ft (May 17, 2020) · 1.93 ft (May 1, 2019) · 1.04 ft (February 21, 2018) · 3.37 ft (October 14, 2017) · 3.16 ft (June 15, 2015)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamNorth Branch Chicago River at Chicago (Grand Ave), IL
- Lake Michigan at Chicago (Chicago Lock), IL
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Chicago (Western Ave), IL
- North Branch Chicago River at Chicago (Pulaski Rd), IL
- Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Stickney, IL
- Des Plaines River at River Forest, IL
- Des Plaines River at Lyons, IL
- Des Plaines River at Riverside, IL
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (NBCI2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.