Update River Stage and Increased Flooding Risk

Flood Warnings and Advisories continue for the Rock, Pecatonica and Kishwaukee Rivers across northern Illinois following heavy rainfall this past weekend.  But additional rainfall this week, along with snow melt from then north, raises the flooding risk heading into the weekend and early next week. 

Many points along the Pecatonica River from Freeport to Shirland are in 'Action Stage', as well as the Kishwaukee River and Rock River from Ogle to Lee County.  This means the river is beginning to rise out of its bank and is flooding some of the low lying land surrounding the river.  As additional rain comes down this week, along with snow melt from a deep snow pack to the north, excessive runoff will occur within the river basins over Illinois and Wisconsin, with Wisconsin's river flowing into the river basins in northern Illinois.

River stages are expected to rise into 'Moderate Flood Stage' later this week and weekend, with some points coming close to 'Major Flood Stage' by early next week.  According to the Climate Prediction Center, soil moisture in northern and northwest Illinois are within the 99th percentile.  This means the soil is extremely saturated and unable to hold any additional moisture.  This will lead to more runoff into local creeks, streams and rivers from any additional rainfall that may fall over the area.

There is also a deep snow pack to the north and with warming temperatures expected this week a lot of that snow will melt.  There is roughly between 0 to 3 inches, to 0 to 4 inches of water equivalent in the snow.  It's uncertain exactly how much snow will melt later this week, but any additional runoff will cause flooding across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  Those who live along any of the local rivers, or in areas that are prone to flooding, need to pay close attention to the forecast in the coming days and weeks.

For updated river levels and forecast, be sure to visit the National Weather Service.