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Illinois River (AR OK) at Chewey, OK

River level and flood forecast · Adair County

Normal2.2 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM

The river is 9.8 ft below flood stage (12 ft).

Forecast to hold near 2.2 ft through Sat, Oct 17, 7 AM.

Flow: 138 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

05101520TueThuSatMonWedFriAction 9 ftFlood 12 ftModerate 15 ftMajor 20 ftNowObserved (ft)NWS forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:10 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

Major flood stage20 ft
Moderate flood stage15 ft
Flood stage12 ft
Action stage9 ft
Record crest (April 30, 2017)32.65 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

  • 32 ftdisastrous flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. This exceeds the December 2015 flood of record, when the river reached 31.8 feet. Chewey Bridge will remain dry until 33.5 feet, but access to the bridge is cut off. Most roads near the river, including Highway 10, are impassible, and areas are isolated for an extended duration. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 31 ftdisastrous flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. This will approach the flood of record of 31.8 feet in December 2015. Water will affect roads and property in a residential area immediately southwest of Chewey Bridge. Most roads near the river, including Highway 10, are impassible, and areas are isolated for an extended duration. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 30 ftdisastrous flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. This exceeds the April 2011 flood, when the river reached 29.5 feet. Water will affect roads and property in a residential area immediately southwest of Chewey Bridge. Numerous roads, including Highway 10 and Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge, are impassible. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 28 ftdisastrous flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Numerous roads, including Highway 10 and Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge, are impassible. Water will threaten roads and property in a residential area immediately southwest of Chewey Bridge. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. This will approach the April 2011 flood when the river reached 29.5 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 26 ftvery severe flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Highway 10 near Hanging Rock is impassible. Numerous roads near the river will be inaccessible and water impacts Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge. Some areas may be isolated for an extended duration. Many cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are severely flooded. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 24 ftvery severe flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Highway 10 near Hanging Rock is impassible. Areas near the river will be inaccessible. Water impacts Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge. Many cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are severely flooded. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 22 ftvery severe flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Highway 10 near Hanging Rock northeast of Tahlequah is impassible. Water impacts Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge. Many cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are severely flooded. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 20 ftvery severe flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Highway 10 near Hanging Rock northeast of Tahlequah is impassible. Water impacts Chewey Road east of Chewey Bridge. Numerous cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are flooded to a depth of several feet. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.
  • 19 ftsevere flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Access roads near the river are cut off. Roads near Hanging Rock may be impassible. Farmlands are inundated. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
  • 17 ftmoderate flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Farmlands and permanent campgrounds are affected. Several cabins in the Fidler's Bend area may be flooded. Livestock is threatened. Access roads near the river are cut off. Roads near Hanging Rock are impacted. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
  • 15 ftmoderate flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Moderate flooding of agricultural lands may result in livestock issues. Travel around Hanging Rock is impacted. Road access near the river is cut off to residential homes southeast of Chewey Bridge. Access to Winset Hollow is cut off. A few cabins in the Fidler's Bend area may have minor flooding. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
  • 13 ftminor flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Water begins to affect access to Winset Hollow. Road access near the river to residential homes southeast of Chewey Bridge may be compromised. Water impacts 630 Road east of the Cherokee/Adair County line. Extreme turbulence makes the river unsafe for floating.
  • 12 ftminor flooding occurs from near Fidler's Bend to near Hanging Rock. Road access near the river to residential homes southeast of Chewey Bridge may be compromised. Water begins to impact 630 Road east of the Cherokee/Adair County line. Floating the river is too hazardous due to strong turbulence.
  • 9 ftno flooding occurs but all recreational floating along the Illinois River ceases due to strong turbulence.

Highest crests on record

  1. 32.65 ft — April 30, 2017
  2. 32.35 ft — December 28, 2015
  3. 29.54 ft — April 26, 2011
  4. 28.85 ft — May 5, 2022
  5. 23.2 ft — May 24, 2011

Recent crests: 9.77 ft (June 15, 2026) · 11.02 ft (June 9, 2026) · 10.69 ft (September 24, 2025) · 9.87 ft (July 18, 2025) · 9.33 ft (July 8, 2025)

Up and down the river, and nearby

See it on the live map →Radar & warnings for Adair CountyNWS gauge pageUSGS gauge 07196090

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CWYO2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.