Kaskaskia River at Vandalia, IL
River level and flood forecast · Fayette County
Normal2.8 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 15.2 ft below flood stage (18 ft).
Flow: 66 cubic feet per second (USGS).
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 | 26 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 24 ft |
| Flood stage | 18 ft |
| Action stage | 16 ft |
| Record crest (May 8, 2002) | 28.27 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 33.29 ftFlood waters reach the instrument shelf of the manometer gage house.
- 31 ftFloodwaters will threaten the wastewater treatment facility near this height.
- 30.5 ftFlood waters reach the floor of the gage house.
- 27.9 ftU.S. Highway 51 south of Vandalia begins to flood near this height.
- 27.5 ftNear this level, the left bank levee just south of the U.S. Highway 51 bridge is overtopped.
- 27.2 ftAt this height, Thrill Hill Road (County Road 1800) is flooded from U.S. 51 for about 3000 ft westward.
- 27.1 ftAt this height about 75% of County Road 2000 between US 51 and the bridge over the Kaskaskia River is flooded.
- 26 ftThe Dively and Vandalia Levees begin to be overtopped.
- 25.8 ftAlong South 4th Street, numerous homes begin flooding near the St. Clair Street intersection.
- 25.5 ftSouth 4th Street begins flooding near and south of Jefferson Street in Vandalia.
- 23 ftAgricultural levee begins to be slightly overtopped. No residences are affected at this level.
- 19.2 ftState Highway J just east of County Road 206 begins to flood near this height.
- 18 ftFlood Stage. Minor flooding begins. Unprotected farmland begins to flood.
Highest crests on record
- 28.27 ft — May 8, 2002
- 27.88 ft — April 19, 2013
- 27.84 ft — January 12, 2020
- 27.83 ft — December 28, 2015
- 27.7 ft — January 6, 2005
Recent crests: 27.22 ft (April 6, 2025) · 18.24 ft (April 3, 2024) · 18.15 ft (January 25, 2024) · 18.26 ft (May 16, 2023) · 23.93 ft (March 26, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (VNDI2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.