Pecatonica River at Freeport, IL

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Thu, Sep 24, 1:56 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 21.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Illinois Highway 26 bridge deck in Freeport.
• 20 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Stephenson Street bridge deck.
• 19 ftWater affects businesses west of the Stephenson Street bridge.
• 17 ftWater affects the parking lots of several businesses near the Stephenson Street bridge.
• 16.5 ftWater surrounds Taylor Park School and affects Illinois Highway 75 east of Freeport.
• 16 ftWater affects parking lots of businesses east of the Stephenson Street bridge and most streets north and south of Illinois Highway 75 are closed. Illinois Highway 75 is also closed.
• 15.5 ftNumerous streets are closed north and south of Illinois Highway 75 and water enters the first floor level of a few homes. Water also begins to enter Taylor Park. Businesses along Van Buren Street north of the Pecatonica River are directly affected by water.
• 15 ftSome street closures begin north and south of Illinois Highway 75 and water affects many back yards in Freeport east of the Pecatonica River. Water begins to reach Illinois Highway 75 at the southeast corner of Taylor Park.
• 14 ftMinor street flooding begins in Freeport and water affects a few back yards east of the Pecatonica River.
• 13 ftWater affects low lying sections of Freeport mainly east of the Pecatonica River.
• 11 ftSome agricultural flooding occurs north of Freeport.

Highest crests on record

1. 17.27 ft — March 17, 2019
2. 17.16 ft — July 3, 1969
3. 17.13 ft — March 25, 1975
4. 16.98 ft — March 8, 1937
5. 16.9 ft — April 5, 1959

Recent crests: 13.12 ft (March 6, 2023) · 15.61 ft (October 9, 2019) · 17.27 ft (March 17, 2019) · 16.14 ft (February 25, 2018) · 15.39 ft (July 26, 2017)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• DownstreamPecatonica River near Shirland, IL
• Rock River at Byron, IL
• Rock River at Rockford (Fordam Dam), IL
• Elkhorn Creek (IL) near Penrose, IL
• Rock River at Rockford (Auburn Street), IL
• Rock River at Latham Park, IL
• Rock River at Rockton, IL
• Rock River at Dixon, IL